Beast: The Primordial ~ Nocturnes [Archive] - Giant in the Playground Forums

Leliel

2015-06-26, 11:00 PM

[Reverend Grebert]

He doesn't wear the cloth all the time. Just much of it.

The man didn't really live in any sense before he knew what he was, and his life is still largely that of what he is now. In fact, if you asked him, he'd probably say that he was too afraid of insanity to really trust himself with a social life, what with his urgings to take and anger towards those who wouldn't let him. Now he is not afraid, and he and everyone close to him is better for it.

Most of the time. He always wears his face-obscuring hat and robes when he's trying to ensure the safety of those close to him. Mostly from others, but a long lull, and starvation drives him to visit everyone close to him who can dream. They're only bad dreams, but it's still a night without good sleep, and that adds up.

Plus, he realizes he was wrong, before. He's never been a sociopath; actually helping people has always brought joy to him, and helping them out of purgatory seems a reasonable extension of that. Which is why he is currently on the docks, wearing a black and white rain jacket for robes and a wide hat, a discount priest (eccentric, but he feels safer somehow wearing it). There's someone in his cross, and she can't leave-not until she knows who killed her.

And while she wasn't killed on the docks, she did recognize a fisherman's coat and the smell of the sea. It's not a big lead, but it's a lead-and really, having the victim as a witness is already advantage an actual detective would kill for.

I've decided the outfit is his Spoor; he's unconsciously dressing himself as something very not-demonic when he's being a Beast, which confuses the Heroic sense of him as a demon.

Mono Vertigo

2015-06-27, 06:53 AM

[Etta]

Another workday at Taco Bell begins. Etta's working the day shift today. She usually takes advantage of the night to satisfy her urges. Or read; she can't wait to go back home and lose herself for a few hours inside the books she borrowed at the library, whether they're about theories in economics, fantastic anthropomorphic incarnations of death, or surviving a zombie apocalypse in the wilderness.
At that moment though, she looks innocuous; just a young woman, ambiguously latino or mixed race (the latter, actually), with the eternal look of an insomniac, taking orders.
"... and a Mountain Dew with that. That'll be 8.59$ thank you very much here is your meal have a great day goodbye."
The midday rush is slowing down to a crawl, thankfully. Until this evening, she can therefore bore her ass off.
Or, hey, maybe somebody interesting will come in.
Like Jerry - reportedly short for Jeremiah, but Jericho's his real name, and it's unusual enough as is - and his characteristically jaded, lost face... just kidding, he hasn't showed up in weeks, and hasn't stepped inside the fast food restaurant in months; if he did again, customers might spontaneously decide he needs a beating.
Somebody else instead, perhaps? Etta watches the entrance expectantly.

Entelechy

2015-06-28, 12:51 AM

Rater202

2015-06-29, 02:51 PM

[Taylor Drake]

It's the afternoon. A dragon in human skin is jogging down the street, jogging outfit just slightly damp with sweat, short, red hair bouncing with every step. Green eyes focus on the path ahead.

Grumble. Hungry. Real hunger, that is, not hunger in her soul. She should probably grab a bite for that too, just incase. Maybe she'll go out clubbing with her roommate, and pick up a bite with her. She laughs at her private joke.

Still. Hungry. There's a Taco Bell on her route. Does she really want second rate fast food? To hell with it, she's hungry.

Once she's close, she heads in. If there's a line, she gets in, otherwise she goes straight to the counter...

...Wait, the girl at the counter. She's like her, a monster in mortal flesh. The impression of a snake-like bat, or a batlike snake.

This complicates things.

Mono Vertigo

2015-06-29, 03:25 PM

"Hello", automatically starts Etta, her voice monotone, before raising her head, "what would you..."
She stays dumbfounded for a second before speaking again. Is that a large presence, like -- a dragon?
She perks up. "Oh, hey! First things first, if you'd like to order a meal, may I suggest you nachos, or a salad maybe? Because the soft tacos are past the expiration date."
The employee leans on the counter, taking a better look at the customer with many eyes, most of which have no material existence on this plane. "Dang, and I was worrying about not having nearly enough time to go out and meet my peers."

Obnoxious Family Resemblance roll to see if I can read a bit of Taylor's Soul.
Wits + Occult + Lair - Taylor's Composure: [roll0]
If 10-again: [roll1]
If Trained Observer applies here, then that's a whopping 8-again instead.

Leliel

2015-06-29, 04:13 PM

Erelim strolled down a pier, whipping pilfered champaign at the bows of ships and rechristening them with obscene names. At the end of it, she shlooped into into its shadows, and let her senses go running about to find something else to amuse herself with. About half a mile up the coast, she found it. Another beast, scampering around with some kind of gang. Erelim hadn't met many beasts, and so began to follow the woman with her senses, stalking her through shadows until she was alone. Then it was just a shadowy hop skip and teleport to be lurking in the shadows right near here.

"Good Evening," She said, still invisibly melted into the shadows.

Using the low Satiety Shadowed Soul power to extend my sense through shadows while melded with them. I will then use my senses to follow her until she is alone and away from the wolfpack (even if its when she is in her room alone), and then use the satiety expenditure power to teleport through shadows to be melded into a shadow near here, which is when I say hello. Since I am not actually present when skying through shadows, I don't know how easily you could detect me, but any supernatural detection should work once I teleport in (technically I get a Clash of Wills, but I am being "friendly," so I won't oppose it).

[Reverend Grebert]

Before that happens, though, a curious Grebert smells alcohol. More out of whim than any hope of getting closer to his goal, he decides to investigate.

Much to his own surprise, Ladonna finds something.

"There's someone here," the ghostly old woman whispers. "Someone who looks like you when you're studying people or strumming the wind."

He sees nothing, of course, but it's very dark. He had met another of his kind before, one who could shape the shadows. Hm...

"Excuse me," he begins, speaking to the dark. "But can anyone here see...all of me?"

You think investigating someone without seeing them counts as sufficient prey-scent for the Eye of Heaven?

Rater202

2015-06-29, 04:19 PM

Etta understands that this creature is like her. She understands that she is, in fact, a huge dragon-she's giant-kin, one of the annakim. She understands that this dragon is young, having having come home recently,as her lair is relatively small. She understands that her Soul is sated. She understands that using fire to try and harm her is suicide. She understands that this Dragon hungers for the power that comes from physically dominating others or demonstrating her physical superiority, or from being acknowledged as the Ultimate Apex Predator. She briefly sees a maze of stoney corridors with extreme heat and flowing magma, and a pile of melted precious metals.

Um, yes. I think I'll go with your suggestion and take the Nachos.

Play it cool taylor. Don't make it a big deal, and neither will she. Then you can come back later, when you're not shocked to meet her.

Doing the same on Taylor's end.[roll0]

Mono Vertigo

2015-06-30, 10:45 AM

Etta's Soul is not very different; she's a rather young and sated Beast. Only she's a watchful creature of the skies, not a gargantuan dragon.
She takes care of Taylor's order. "I'm curious. Do you happen to know how many more of us there are here in Midway?"

Rater202

2015-06-30, 03:39 PM

Sith_Happens

2015-06-30, 07:17 PM

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[O'Lorry's]
[About three years ago]

'O'Lorry's.'

That was where the changeling had told Rachel to go. Or at least she's pretty sure "changeling" is the right word; it sort of just popped out of the back of her head when she spotted him on the sidewalk surrounded by faint will-o'-wisps. Actually, the wisps were probably also in her own head, a product of whatever sixth sense Rachel seemed to have for the Dark Mother's bloodline. What she knew for sure was that he was more faerie than human.

I may not have found any other Children yet, but so far vampires and faeries are both real so that's cool. What's next, werewolves?

That first part was about to change, though. Her friendly introduction as one of the Begotten had gotten her a curious "Oh, you mean like Mr. O'Lorry," which had quickly led to a "He owns a restaurant in town, 'O'Lorry's.'" Of course the little faerie bugger wouldn't tell her where O'Lorry's was (thank you Google), something about being new around here too maybe I've said too much could you please please promise not to tell anyone for the next week that I told you that lest your luck sour but otherwise may your meeting go well for you and yes I'd like to make that promise magically binding if it's alright with you. One handshake later and boom, faerie contract.

On the off chance it actually matters for the one scene it's relevant:

Duration: Week (+1)
Lesser Forbiddance: Don't tell anyone who told you about O'Lorry's. (-1)
Lesser Curse (-1)
Adroitness: Socialize (+1)
That seems like the kind of thing I should be worried about in the future... If it weren't physically impossible to pull one over on me, of course, Rachel had thought afterwards with a barely-concealed grin.

Earth to Rachel, waitress is coming. Just because you have a perfect memory doesn't mean you should live in it.

Rachel takes note of the imaginary wisps floating around her waitress's body. She can tell she's about half full on... Glamour, whatever that is exactly, and that if the waitress had a Lair it would be the same size as her own. One other waiter, the greeter, and a fair number of the customers all seemed to be changelings as well. No wonder her accidental contact was wary to say too much about the place, it must be a meeting place or safe haven of some kind.

"Welcome to O'Lorry's, can I get you anything to drink?"

"Water's fine for now."

Rachel leans in slightly, lowers her voice, and puts on her best smile.

"Also, is Mr. O'Lorry himself here? I just moved here from out of state and was told we have a lot in common, so I was hoping he could tell me a few things about the city."

As she says the above she draws her Soul into herself, tapping its Web of Knowledge [Rachel's name for her Mimir's Wisdom atavism] to borrow a trove of ancient lore. The waitress's reaction confirms what Rachel instinctually suspected might be a side-effect of calling on such power; for just that instant she could see the Spider, the half-human monstrosity lurking just beyond the veil of reality. Which just left waiting, assuming that O'Lorry would show of course.

If he feels remotely the way I do about meeting new Beasts, he'll definitely show.

Preemptive Family Resemblance roll:

Initial: [roll0]
10-again: [roll1]

EDIT: Hello failure, Rachel knows squat about Blaine except what his Soul looks like.

EDIT 7/5: As a side-effect of a rules misinterpretation (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19492235&postcount=310) I rolled three fewer dice above than I should have, which is corrected in the post I just linked. Luckily that turned the roll into a success, so Rachel does in fact know that Blaine is a Lair 1 Anakim and that he's currently Sated.

...Which I suppose needs to be accounted for in the next of my posts for this scene. Oy vey. [END EDIT]

Rachel is at Satiety 2 (starved) for this scene if you succeed on your roll, and if you use Eye of Heaven her aspirations at this point in time are:

> Meet another Beast. [Resolved or soon to be resolved*]
> Find a reliable way to sate myself.
> Explore Midway's night life and find out what sorts of dirty secrets I can expect to dig up.

* Don't worry, I don't plan to take any Beats from this thread, obviously any of the ones I would earn are already accounted for in my starting XP.

Leliel

2015-06-30, 10:46 PM

[Reverend Grebert]

When the dark seems unresponsive, the priest lifts off his hat as far as he can without getting wet, revealing a brown-eyed man of vague ethnicity. And hopefully, his Soul.

"I'm not going to harm anyone here, if you're a ghost or a relative."

Ravian

2015-06-30, 10:51 PM

[O'Lorry's]
[About three years ago][/B]

"Also, is Mr. O'Lorry himself here? I just moved here from out of state and was told we have a lot in common, so I was hoping he could tell me a few things about the city."

Given the heads she turned walking through the door, it was obvious that changelings can see Rachel for what she is the same way that vampire at the bar could a week and a half ago. Which just left waiting, assuming that O'Lorry would show of course.

If he feels remotely the way I do about meeting new Beasts, he'll definitely show.

"A lot in common? That's what she said?" Blaine inquired from Magdalene, his newest server. She was one of the Freehold's foundlings, and he was providing her employment while the changelings looked into her family and how viable it might be to remove her fetch from the picture. She was a timid girl that spooked easily, and Blaine had glimpsed the shrouded Darkling nature of her fae mien on more than one occasion.

Right now she seemed particularly worried about this woman she had told Blaine about.
"Yes sir, but well... I know it sounds weird sir, but when I was looking at her sir, I thought I saw..." she paused

"Saw what Maggie? Don't leave me hanging."

"Yes sir, sorry sir. I thought I saw a... spider sir, sort of like when I look at you sir and see... you."

"Is that so?" Blaine rose from his office chair where he had been finishing the time-sheets. He stroked his beard before turning back to Magdalene. "Go head back to work Maggie, I'll take care of this one."

Blaine quickly identified the woman Magdalene had mentioned and approached her table with a welcoming smile. As he loomed over the woman and table he cheerfully inquired "Afternoon ma'am, my name's Blaine and I'll be your server today. Can I start you off with something to drink?"

Initial: [roll0]
10 again [roll1]

1 success: Blaine knows Rachel's a beast of the Namtaru family (though he probably doesn't know the word for it, simply sensing that there is something terrifyingly hideous within her.) he's also aware that she is very hungry.

Blaine's smile twitched for just a moment as he got the distinct sense of too many crawling legs from the woman, as well as the ravenous hunger behind those eyes.

"Or perhaps we'd like to move directly to food?" he asked, chuckling despite himself.

Blaine is currently lukewarm (Satiety 6) and his current aspirations are:
Find a new Server.
Find out who's been tagging his restaurant.
Establish a new branch of O'Lorry's in the city.

Entelechy

2015-07-01, 12:02 AM

[The Erelim and Reverend Grebert]

"I wouldn't speak to a Father, but to a cousin perhaps I might," a voice floats up from the shadows of the pier.

Leliel

2015-07-01, 11:27 AM

[The Erelim and Reverend Grebert]

"I wouldn't speak to a Father, but to a cousin perhaps I might," a voice floats up from the shadows of the pier.

[Grebert and Erelim]

The priest smirks. "But the real question is one of salvation from a Mother, isn't it?"

"Bruno Grebert. Deacon of 32nd Street, sometime investigator, and exorcist necromancer." He lifts up his cross. "The one I am currently freeing out of Purgatory is Ladonna Jones; I'm here to help find her killer. Do you know of any suspicious sailors that may be suffering guild over a death? Ones that might have an ear in our wonderful police department?"

Sith_Happens

2015-07-01, 07:51 PM

Blaine quickly identified the woman Magdalene had mentioned and approached her table with a welcoming smile. As he loomed over the woman and table he cheerfully inquired "Afternoon ma'am, my name's Blaine and I'll be your server today. Can I start you off with something to drink?"

Initial: [roll0]
10 again [roll1]

1 success: Blaine knows Rachel's a beast of the Namtaru family (though he probably doesn't know the word for it, simply sensing that there is something terrifyingly hideous within her.) he's also aware that she is very hungry.

Blaine's smile twitched for just a moment as he got the distinct sense of too many crawling legs from the woman, as well as the ravenous hunger behind those eyes.

"Or perhaps we'd like to move directly to food?" he asked, chuckling despite himself.

[Rachel Hartley (as herself), featuring Blaine O'Lorry]

Well that didn't take long.

Rachel can't help but gulp as the huge man with the huger Soul approaches her table. Piercing through his supernatural visage, she identifies him as a Giant, and a well-fed one at that. Not that his Soul leaves anything to the imagination anyways; she can't help but stare at the goat-headed giant with limbs like tree trunks, tall enough to nearly pass through the ceiling and Oh god he's staring back. And by the looks of it he's seeing a lot more about me than I just did him.

Rachel pinches herself under the table to make sure her invisible exoskeleton is still there. Not that she's expecting it not to be, but right now it's a comforting thing to confirm.

Come on, stop being such a scaredy-Beast. Look how friendly he looks on the outside! Besides, we're Family, what's the worst that could happen?

With that reassurance she's all smiles by the time the giant reaches her table and finishes speaking.

"I already asked for a water, but now that I think about it some lemonade would really hit the spot instead. And since you asked, how big is your chicken-fried steak? I think right now I'm starved in every sense of the word. As for the other matter—"

Rachel lowers her voice and discreetly points in the general direction of Blaine's phantom goat head.

"—Perhaps that would be better discussed after hours? I would hate to think I'm slowing down your operation by keeping you standing here talking to me. Also, it suddenly occurs to me we might be overheard here."

Suddenly she extends her hand.

"Oh, where are my manners? The name's Rachel, I'm a freshman at MCU. Is it true what they say about the library there? I know it's practically impossible to get into the lower level, but if I could I'm curious whether I'd find anything of interest."

By the way she emphasizes "interest" it's obvious what she means (i.e.- Beast-related).

Rachel is hiding the fact that she still finds Blaine slightly intimidating even after reassuring herself, if you want to contest that I think it would be Wits + Empathy vs. Composure + Subterfuge? She's going for broke (i.e.- spending Willpower) on her end.

Blaine:

10-again: [roll1]

Rachel: [roll2]

10-again: [roll3]

EDIT: According to the nWoD core book concealing your emotions is [I]Wits + Subterfuge, which nets Rachel one more die:
[roll]1d10

EDIT 2: The new roll appears to not be working, which I suppose makes sense (obviously it's an anti-cheating measure). New post it is.

Blaine is currently lukewarm (Satiety 6) and his current aspirations are:
Find a new Server.
Find out who's been tagging his restaurant.
Establish a new branch of O'Lorry's in the city.

I figure Rachel doesn't have Eye of Heaven herself yet at this point (as it was bought with XP), which is good, that way you don't have to explain how Blaine still hasn't found the mystery tagger three years later.:smalltongue:

Sith_Happens

2015-07-01, 08:20 PM

Missed a die on my Subterfuge roll:

[roll0]

10-again: [roll1]

EDIT: Woooooow. This dice roller really does hate me.

Entelechy

2015-07-02, 12:03 AM

Sith_Happens

2015-07-02, 12:33 AM

(Sorry for the triple-post, the way certain parts of this subforum work it seems it can't be helped.)

[Rachel Hartley (as Valerie Lestrade)]
[Two months ago*]
[The docks, nighttime]

* Or longer, if necessary to take place before the other currently-ongoing docks scenes.

"Thanks a bunch for getting me here. No need to wait around, I can get back on my own."

Valerie waves to the feathered changeling, quickly alters her supernatural aura to match that of a Uratha, and steps through the gate, finding herself outside the warehouse that the Hedge had begun to resemble.

If there's one thing that will reliably draw out a werewolf pack, it's another werewolf appearing deep within their territory out of nowhere. I just hope these guys are the sort who bark before biting.

Not that Valerie couldn't take a few seconds of teeth and claws if need be, but the one problem with wearing bullet-resistant clothing is that it's a bitch to mend whenever it doesn't stop something. Besides, a new pack rolling into town, claiming a prime piece of land, and using mysterious means to hold it? That's the sort of thing Valerie would never be able to resist sticking her nose into even if she were in real danger. Especially if these Urathas' "help" is what she thinks it is.

Time to play the waiting game, I guess. Come hither little flies, the Spider awaits you.

She leans against the warehouse wall, takes out her phone, and begins to check her email, subtly scanning her surroundings all the while for any signs of her hosts.

As soon as Valerie spots a werewolf she intends to put her hands in the air and announce that she sees them. I don't know if you're inclined to just say she succeeds at spotting one for expediency's sake, if not then here's my perception roll*:

Initial: [roll0]
9-Again: [roll1]

She takes no penalties from lighting due to having Poor Lighting as a Lair trait.

* I'm assuming that active (as opposed to passive or reactive) perception can use Investigation in place of Composure, since that seems entirely sensible to me.

----------

The way I read the abilities in question Family Resemblance wins out over Passing Resemblance automatically, which means that Kira will recognize Valerie as a Beast immediately even if her friends don't.

Lady Serpentine

2015-07-02, 08:16 AM

[Kira Summers
Docks - Arel
Midnight, Two Weeks Ago]

Dark-shrouded streets: Some would be disquieted. Others were like the predator who stalked the one newest to claim these docks, revelers in shadow. And some, like her quarry, simply slid through the night.

An alley: Buildings rise on either side, blotting out the sky. Streetlights glint in the distane like anglerfish, the surroundings mimicing some abyssal trench at the bottom of the ocean. Headlights are hunters seeking their prey; whores swept off the streets to return in the morning, with luck, cars swallowing them as surely as any goblin shark, drugs devoured greedily, jellyfish tendrils of addiction flowing through the city, leaving those who feast upon them anyway paralyzed.

"Who swims in the my shadow?" The girl isn't really any larger than you'd expect a normal woman in her early twenties to be, if that - but she seems massive as any Daughter of Leviathan, the weight of her presence enough to lend an oppressive pressure to the air around them.

[roll0]

Leliel

2015-07-02, 11:18 AM

[The Erelim and Reverend Grebert]

"I said I don't talk to Father, but if you stripped down to how our Mother made you, we could talk." the voice from the shadows chuckled "Call it a tithe to Her shadow."

"Sadly, this is also my raincoat. What the Mother made me doesn't like getting wet." Grebert shrugs. "But if it suits you..."

Being careful to stand under an awning, Grebert takes the old coat partially off, revealing extremely frugal and practical wear. :The cross stays, though. I use it to help the ghosts in my dream come out of my dream, and if I lose it, both the way out and the one it currently protects will be lost. Best to keep an eye on it."

Entelechy

2015-07-03, 12:16 AM

[The Erelim and Reverend Grebert]

"I'll concede a cross, but the rest has to go, or I do," Erelim continues to argue from the shadows.

[Kira Summers and The Erelim ~ Docks ~ Midnight, Two Weeks Ago]

"Just a cousin, cousin," said the shadows in a playful alto voice. "But you are mistaken. It is you who swim in my shadow, as for years the shadows of this city are the home and friend of the Erelim."

Leliel

2015-07-03, 12:20 AM

[Reverend Grebert]

Internally, the Reverend begins to suspect there's a bit of bitterness towards the religion in the voice.

But, real righteousness was leading by example. Kinship demanded he show kinship.

The raincoat goes off altogether, the hat flipped off. He leans back against the building, careful to avoid the wet.

Entelechy

2015-07-03, 11:53 AM

[Reverend Grebert]

"You misunderstand. Mother never made you with shirts, pants, shoes, or naught else. A coat's only a start, and keep your cross, but otherwise as be Mother made you."

Leliel

2015-07-03, 06:04 PM

[Reverend Grebert]

"You misunderstand. Mother never made you with shirts, pants, shoes, or naught else. A coat's only a start, and keep your cross, but otherwise as be Mother made you."

Grebert raises an eyebrow.

"I either suspect you can see how one Mother made me perfectly well, unless you can't see in your own dark, in which case this is pointless. I also doubt either Mother of mine would appreciate a son getting pneumonia, so the warm clothes stay."

Entelechy

2015-07-03, 08:22 PM

Leliel

2015-07-03, 09:48 PM

"As long as your not being bashful. After all, all clothes cast shadows on the body, and all shadows are my eyes," The Erelim laughs and melts out from the shadows of the dock. Darkly shadows and wearing much clothing, its hard to tell much of her appearance other than her stringy hair and short stature.

"Funny, the dead are mine. At least, a dead, depending on who I am currently liberating."

Grebet shrugs. "I despise imprecise semantics. But to whom do I owe the pleasure, cousin...?

Sith_Happens

2015-07-03, 10:51 PM

[Rachel Hartley (as Valerie Lestrade)]
[About a year ago]
[Valerie's penthouse, late evening]

"Hey Jackson, it's Valerie, I'm calling in that favor.

No, nothing big probably, I'm about to go confront a thief and need a wolf or two nearby in case they have friends.

Who?

I remember him now, sure, he'll do fine. Tell him to be at the corner of Poe and Stillman in half an hour."

Few things are capable of making Valerie Lestrade angry. A taunting GIF on her work and personal computers and signs of data theft from both them and her blog server? Turns out that's one of them.

Even fewer people are capable of hiding from Valerie Lestrade. Use as many proxies as you want, the Web of Knowledge reaches everywhere and it knows where you live.

[About 45 minutes later]
[Outside Seth Decosta's residence*]

Since you haven't specified where Seth lives, I'm assuming a modest yet somewhat upscale apartment in an area with little to no supernatural activity (besides his own of course). If any of that is wrong I'll edit this post accordingly.
If this is where this ******* lives he's probably mortal, which means he can't break my encryption on his own. Bet he thinks that's the worst part of this, the poor sap. I can't wait to see the look on his face when he realizes he's already been found. The only question is how much I should let Frederick here mess him up; I'm thinking some scars are in order. Son of a bitch thinks he's so hot flashing that little monster face at me, it's only fair he finds out that he's pissed off a real monster.

...****, how long have I just been standing here staring at the door? Thought I'd stopped doing that years ago.

Valerie composes herself, smiles, and knocks on the door. She would signal to Frederick, but he's already pressed against the wall out of sight.

Got to hand it to werewolves, they're all pros.

Seeing as Seth has Mimir's Wisdom I won't bother rolling Subterfuge for Valerie's civil façade or for the cover story she plans on using if he questions her through the door.

If he has a peephole and uses Eye of Heaven through it Valerie's aspirations at this point in time are:

> Secure a full-time position at the Times of Midway.
> Get someone powerful to patronize my new business.
> Meet one of the Gentry.

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-04, 07:59 AM

No clue. Just came in a bit ago. But I think we're drawing atention from the prey, so... We'll have to talk later.

Taylor pays for her order and whispers an address on the rich side of town, with instructions to come and talk that evening, if the other Beast wants to, that is.

[Etta]
[Taco Bell]
[Around 2PM]

"Oh, right. Sure."
The manager is already looking at her with an irritated look, silently pointing at his watch. Stop babbling and go back to work, he means; his employee complies grumpily.
The rest of the shift is uneventful.

[Rich side of town]
[8PM]

This is not a part of Midway Etta is used to frequent. A couple passerbys eyed her suspiciously already. She didn't look like she belonged there, period.
She did wonder - a bit late - if she'd gotten herself into some kind of shady deal, but she was fairly confident she could defend herself. Besides, that Taylor girl didn't seem so suspicious to her, and she really wanted to meet another child of the Dark Mother, a metaphysical sibling (sympathetic or not, it didn't matter much) who could accept her Soul as it was. Gets lonely, after all.

Rater202

2015-07-04, 01:12 PM

Ravian

2015-07-04, 02:54 PM

"—Perhaps that would be better discussed after hours? I would hate to think I'm slowing down your operation by keeping you standing here talking to me. Also, it suddenly occurs to me we might be overheard here."

Suddenly she extends her hand.

"Oh, where are my manners? The name's Rachel, I'm a freshman at MCU. Is it true what they say about the library there? I know it's practically impossible to get into the lower level, but if I could I'm curious whether I'd find anything of interest."

By the way she emphasizes "interest" it's obvious what she means (i.e.- Beast-related).

[Blaine O'Lorry, 3 Years ago, After Closing time]

Blaine poured Rachel another glass of lemonade. "I apologize I can't offer anything stronger, but family-friendly restaurants have never mixed with anything more alcoholic than root beer. Besides, you're probably too young anyway."

He poured himself a glass of the same.

"MCU, eh? Can't say I've ever been around there much. This old place took priority over fancy book learning. Plus, we're not exactly 'hip' with most of the college crowd. I've heard about the library, though, and all the weird stuff over there. Some of my associates over at the Fort mentioned that we might be related to those beasties on display."

Blaine took a long sip from his lemonade.

"Now the question I have is what you might be up to in town. I'm not the suspicious type but I prefer to keep things on the down low where my business is concerned. I've got a lot of skittish employees who get a tad nervous when Shelob herself starts looking at the lunch specials." he chuckled at his own joke.

The Glyphstone

2015-07-04, 07:46 PM

Sith_Happens

2015-07-05, 04:28 AM

[Blaine O'Lorry, 3 Years ago, After Closing time]

Blaine poured Rachel another glass of lemonade. "I apologize I can't offer anything stronger, but family-friendly restaurants have never mixed with anything more alcoholic than root beer. Besides, you're probably too young anyway."

He poured himself a glass of the same.

"MCU, eh? Can't say I've ever been around there much. This old place took priority over fancy book learning. Plus, we're not exactly 'hip' with most of the college crowd. I've heard about the library, though, and all the weird stuff over there. Some of my associates over at the Fort mentioned that we might be related to those beasties on display."

Blaine took a long sip from his lemonade.

"Now the question I have is what you might be up to in town. I'm not the suspicious type but I prefer to keep things on the down low where my business is concerned. I've got a lot of skittish employees who get a tad nervous when Shelob herself starts looking at the lunch specials." he chuckled at his own joke.

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[With Blaine O'Lorry]

"If Shelob ordering lunch gives them goose bumps, I can't help but wonder how they feel about working for a cave troll," Rachel responds with a wicked grin.

"As for what I'm doing in this city, I already told you I'm a freshman at MCU. Associates program in journalism, specifically. I have a certain... taste for secrets, you see, and they do say you should love your work."

By the time she finishes that last sentence her grin is back, even wider and more predatory than before. Rachel is clearly enjoying herself.

"Lucky for me, not only does Midway City University have one of the best journalism programs in the country, from what I hear the city itself is practically oozing with juicy, delectable secrets just waiting to be gobbled up and splashed on the front page."

If Blaine couldn't tell before that this is Rachel's way of describing her Hunger, he probably can now that she's just literally licked her lips.

"But enough about me, what's your story? Your Soul looks nearly as full as you do, does it eat here or some place else?"

Speaking of which, if Blaine shook Rachel's hand or patted her on the back or some such at any point up to now then you owe me one "damning fact" about him, preferably a dark secret or the closest thing he has to one.:smalltongue:

(Man I love this atavism already. And don't worry, I have no plans for PvP any time soon, I just figure as long as that effect is on I might as well use it.:smallamused:)

When the knock on his door came, Seth was relaxing on his couch with the TV on. He'd seen this episode before, but he liked it anyways, and made a little game out of reciting each line of dialogue along with the actors as they spoke. He certainly wasn't expecting any visitors, though, and in this neighborhood, it never hurt to be cautious. Muting the box, he plucked his pistol from its place on the side table, holding it down to his side as he approached the door.

"Yeah, who is it?"

[Rachel Hartley (as Valerie Lestrade)]
[Seth Decosta's apartment (exterior)]

****, that's a good question.

Valerie suddenly realizes that in her rush to confront the hacker who dared cross her she'd neglected to put any sort of effort into learning in advance who they might actually be. Thinking fast, she goes with the default cover story for what she does know.

"Hello? I need some help with a tricky computer problem and was told you're quite good."

Lady Serpentine

2015-07-05, 07:29 AM

[Kira Summers and The Erelim ~ Docks ~ Midnight, Two Weeks Ago]

"Just a cousin, cousin," said the shadows in a playful alto voice. "But you are mistaken. It is you who swim in my shadow, as for years the shadows of this city are the home and friend of the Erelim."

[Kira Summers and The Erelim
The Docks
Midnight, Two Weeks Ago]

"You making it your residence does not change that it is I who casts the shadow: Nor does that it is your friend make you mine." Kira turns slowly, looking around in the area the voice seems to be coming from; her eyes are well-used to utter blackness... And Erelim can probably see things crawling through the air in on the edges of her sight, darting tendrils that vanish into the blackness as soon as she tries to look at them more closely, hunting for her by feel. "Though you have done nothing to make me say that you are not, at least. Yet."

She shrugs, a faint smile appearing on her face as she considers things for a moment, enjoying their verbal sparring, which is reflected in her voice as her tone lightens, becoming almost teasing. "Still. What brings you to my home, then, cousin? At least, I assume if you can claim all shadows in this city as yours, then I might be allowed the relative pittance I have chosen for my own."

The Glyphstone

2015-07-05, 10:20 AM

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]

[B][Rachel Hartley (as Valerie Lestrade)]
[Seth Decosta's apartment (exterior)]

****, that's a good question.

Valerie suddenly realizes that in her rush to confront the hacker who dared cross her she'd neglected to put any sort of effort into learning in advance who they might actually be. Thinking fast, she goes with the default cover story for what she does know.

"Hello? I need some help with a tricky computer problem and was told you're quite good."

'Valerie's hurried introduction made him smile, though he also silently flipped off the safety on his gun - she wasn't here for tech support, whatever she said, and he was too canny to be suckered by a pretty voice; who knew what sort of muscle was waiting with her on the other side. A peek through the fisheye lens in the door, on the other hand...he definitely wasn't expecting relatives to show up, especially like this. But if she wanted to play...well, then let's play.

"Looking for some net help? Yeah, I do a little bit of that on the side, though it's all perfectly legal and above board, nothing shady or criminal about any of my work. Where'd you hear about me, and what sort of problems are you having?"

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-06, 04:20 AM

[Rich side of town, 8 PM]

Etta finds herself buzzed past the gate of an apartment complex that's more like a village, and once she's made it to the appropriate apartment, finds a third woman letting her in, a pale, dark haired, oddly beautiful woman, a little younger than the dragon-woman, who looks like she just got out of bed like, a minute ago.

"Hey. Welcome. Something came up and Tay had to run out for a bit, but she'll be back soon... come in, come in."

Etta, whatever the tell is for her, can tell that this woman is, while not a sibling, maybe a cousin? If she's encountered Vampires before, she knows that the woman is among the undead.

"So, what is it Tay brought you over for? All she did was leave me a note."

"Oh! Thanks a lot."
There's some vague resemblance between Taylor and this woman, thinks Etta, but she doesn't ping the same as as the Anakim did. The only vampire Etta met was seen from a distance, and she never could decide whether this was a regular assault or a fantastical blood-sucking feeding she'd witnessed.
"It's a long story", explains the Ugallu, though the event she's referencing took place in a very short timespan. "To make it short, we found out we were related by pure chance. I'd like to talk with Taylor about what we have in common. When is she supposed to come back?"
An exciting prospect, but she did her best not to let on too much and keep a serious facade. And an eye on that woman. Several, actually. She wondered if...

More Family Resemblance! Remove as many dice as necessary, since I don't know the resisting Composure for this one.
Wits + Occult + Lair: [roll0]
10-again: [roll1]
If I fail, make that a Dramatic Failure (I know we're not getting experience on the prologue, so I'm not expecting beats, just making things more interesting). There's at the very least one success so nevermind that.

Entelechy

2015-07-06, 03:49 PM

"Funny, the dead are mine. At least, a dead, depending on who I am currently liberating."

Grebet shrugs. "I despise imprecise semantics. But to whom do I owe the pleasure, cousin...?

The Erelim and Father Grebet

"The Erelim. What are semantics?" The Erelim asks curiously. Her posture does not shift.

[Kira Summers and The Erelim
The Docks
Midnight, Two Weeks Ago]

"You making it your residence does not change that it is I who casts the shadow: Nor does that it is your friend make you mine." Kira turns slowly, looking around in the area the voice seems to be coming from; her eyes are well-used to utter blackness... And Erelim can probably see things crawling through the air in on the edges of her sight, darting tendrils that vanish into the blackness as soon as she tries to look at them more closely, hunting for her by feel. "Though you have done nothing to make me say that you are not, at least. Yet."

She shrugs, a faint smile appearing on her face as she considers things for a moment, enjoying their verbal sparring, which is reflected in her voice as her tone lightens, becoming almost teasing. "Still. What brings you to my home, then, cousin? At least, I assume if you can claim all shadows in this city as yours, then I might be allowed the relative pittance I have chosen for my own."

The shadow chuckles, "The Erelim is a friend to all. The Erelim is a liberator. And I say you can have all the shadows you want, so long as you are happy to share."

Rater202

2015-07-06, 04:48 PM

"Oh! Thanks a lot."
There's some vague resemblance between Taylor and this woman, thinks Etta, but she doesn't ping the same as as the Anakim did. The only vampire Etta met was seen from a distance, and she never could decide whether this was a regular assault or a fantastical blood-sucking feeding she'd witnessed.
"It's a long story", explains the Ugallu, though the event she's referencing took place in a very short timespan. "To make it short, we found out we were related by pure chance. I'd like to talk with Taylor about what we have in common. When is she supposed to come back?"
An exciting prospect, but she did her best not to let on too much and keep a serious facade. And an eye on that woman. Several, actually. She wondered if...

More Family Resemblance! Remove as many dice as necessary, since I don't know the resisting Composure for this one.
Wits + Occult + Lair: [roll0]
10-again: [roll1]
If I fail, make that a Dramatic Failure (I know we're not getting experience on the prologue, so I'm not expecting beats, just making things more interesting). There's at the very least one success so never mind that.

Etta knows that this woman is an undead creature that must consume life energy via vital fluids to survive, and that she's mostly full but could use a bite.

She's led into a room with decent, comfortable chairs and a coffee table.

"So, what, you're a dragon like Tay? You've kind of got that vibe going... Much nicer dragons than the ones in my end of the Crone's genepool."

This crone could be the dark mother... Or it could be someone else entirely.

"Anyway, Tay's note said she should be back soon, so-"

The sound of a door opening is heard, and a moment later Taylor comes in, holding a black plastic bag.

Oh, shoot, I was hoping to get back before you got here. Sam, you been treating her right?

"Yeah. You're cousin, or soul sister or however it works for you "Actually-a-Dragon-Dragon" people just got here. She's lucky I was up to buzz her in. Anyway, I'm gonna get ready-Tay, you coming out to breakfast with me?"

Maybe.

Taylor tosses the black bag to Sam, who heads off down the hall.

Sorry I wasn't here. I sort promised Sam I'd pick something up for her, but I forgot after running into you and didn't remember till half an hour ago. Then once I had grabbed it, some punk in the parking lot called me a slut out of nowhere, so of course I had to beat the **** out of him.

Leliel

2015-07-06, 09:10 PM

The Erelim and Father Grebet

"The Erelim. What are semantics?" The Erelim asks curiously. Her posture does not shift.
[/COLOR]

"The meanings of words. Imprecise semantics leads to misunderstandings, and there's few things I hate more than communication gone awry. So, so much of my childhood would have been nicer if I could talk to my Soul..."

"But that is neither here nor there. I ask again; do you know of any suspicious sailors with ties to the police?"

Sith_Happens

2015-07-06, 10:06 PM

'Valerie's hurried introduction made him smile, though he also silently flipped off the safety on his gun - she wasn't here for tech support, whatever she said, and he was too canny to be suckered by a pretty voice; who knew what sort of muscle was waiting with her on the other side. A peek through the fisheye lens in the door, on the other hand...he definitely wasn't expecting relatives to show up, especially like this. But if she wanted to play...well, then let's play.

"Looking for some net help? Yeah, I do a little bit of that on the side, though it's all perfectly legal and above board, nothing shady or criminal about any of my work. Where'd you hear about me, and what sort of problems are you having?"

Perception rolled here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19499098&postcount=320), Valerie can tell that Seth probably isn't right at the door.

Also, you forgot to roll Family Resemblance:

Wits + Occult + Lair - Composure = 3 + 4 + 1 - 2 = 6

Initial: [roll0]

10-Again: [roll1]

EDIT: To save you the trouble of finding my character sheet (since Rater still hasn't linked it in the first post of the OOC), Valerie is a Namtaru, is Sated, and (of course) is of low Lair. Her Soul is a half-human, half-spider.
[Rachel Hartley (as Valerie Lestrade)]
[Outside Seth DeCosta's apartment]

Valerie feels the familiar twang in her web indicating a lie... Along with a second twang indicating that whoever's on the other side of that door knows more than he's letting on.

Whatever kind of help he thinks I'm asking for, he's obviously not used to giving it, or at least not to being asked in person. I'm going to need to be careful if I want to find an angle. Or...

Going by the sound of the man's voice she can tell he probably isn't looking at her, but it can't hurt to try anyways.

"That's an oddly specific thing to say, I never mentioned anything about legality. What I can say is that the thing I need help with is quite difficult and even more specialized... You know, the sort of thing you ask about on the Dark Web? If you would kindly let me in I could explain in more detail."

With the words "If you would kindly," Valerie pushes a nightmare of obedience through the peephole. If she's wrong and whoever she's talking to is watching her, then that's checkmate.

Yes, that reference was intentional.:smallwink:

----------

By my reading, Seth can tell automatically that:

1. Valerie can tell he's suspicious of her.

2. Whatever it is she really wants, she's dancing around it.

3. Everything from "What I can say..." to "...Dark Web" is a half-truth.

----------

I'm kind of wondering if we should be rolling Manipulation to see who makes the other slip up first, but it's probably too early for that.

The Glyphstone

2015-07-07, 01:12 AM

Sith_Happens

2015-07-07, 04:30 AM

Seth DeCosta
Seth's Apartment
Prelude Minus One Year

Half-truth and careful words were his favorite kind of dialogue. Granted, the likelihood of imminent violence was growing higher by the minute, but he couldn't resist living dangerously sometimes, and this was just too much fun.

"Just covering the bases, you know. If you've come to me for that sort of thing, you know the sort of things that can be lurking out on the web. You never know when you'll run across a fed, lurking like a spider for you to say something they can use to suck the life out of you. Who did you say pointed you my way? I don't exactly have an entry in the Yellow Pages these days."

Seth's going to open the door eventually, but he's feeding his Legend right now by playing mind/word games with her. When that gets boring (or when we run out of spider-related innuendos), he'll open up.

Unfortunately for Seth, his puns just gave him away.:smalltongue:
Twang. The man behind the door still knows more than he's letting on. Which in the current context means he's on to her. Drat.

Twang. Saying one thing but meaning another.

Wait, what? The only parts of what he just said that could possibly apply to are...

But I haven't read anyone, which means the only way he could know that is if...

Well this is awkward.

A feeling of twisted amusement suddenly emanates from Valerie's Soul.

Just to be clear, that bit right there is from Soul Communion, only Valerie herself can feel it.

In related news, I suddenly wonder if many Beasts develop anything roughly akin to split personality issues, what with their own souls literally having minds of their own...
Think this is funny, do you? How about I empty your belly right here and now, then we'll see which of us gets the last laugh.

...

Wait a minute... 'The last laugh...'

Relevant rolls (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19500229&postcount=323); both succeeded.
The little jerk is messing with me. Well now the joke's on him...

While normally Valerie would be inclined to cut to the chase upon realizing she's talking to Kin, she decides to make an exception in this case. Firstly, if he's known she's a Beast this whole time and still kept his cards close to his chest then there's no telling if he values his Family at all, at least not without some more probing. Secondly... Well, now that Valerie has seen through the last of her mystery hacker's tricks she can't help but wonder how long she can string him along before he realizes it's him who's being had...

"I understand your concern, it would be quite the pathetic fly to get caught in such a simple trap. I'm trying to track quite the elusive fly myself, hence why I'm here.

As for how I found you, there are forums for that sort of thing. I can't seem to recall your handle, but I believe most people know you as the 'Cheshire Cat?'"

Wits + Subterfuge + [spending Willpower] vs. Wits + Empathy to see if Valerie maintained her poker face upon realizing that Seth is a Beast:

Valerie:

Initial: [roll0]
10-Again: [roll1]

Seth:

Initial: [roll2]
10-Again: [roll3]

EDIT: Holy crap, I just lost a 9 dice vs. 5 dice contest again (first time was versus Blaine).:smallfurious:

...On the bright side, since my roll technically succeeded (just less so than yours) it's not that Valerie's poker face totally breaks, it's more like she momentarily twitches the slightest bit or shows a brief flash of realization or something, and Seth is just observant enough to notice it.

...Wait, he can't see her right now in the first place so the whole thing is moot.:smallredface:

----------

Seth's Wisdom:

Whole thing = withholding information

"Forums for that sort of thing" = misdirection

"...'Cheshire Cat'" = doesn't actually ping on the atavism I don't think, but I'm assuming she just tipped her hand by saying it

----------

Lastly, I just now realized what you did there naming your character "Seth.":smallredface:

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-07, 05:13 AM

That saves a lot of trouble, actually.
The undead part is a little concerning, though. What is it like, being undead? Is it like dying then being brought back to existence, or undergoing something different, but similar to death? Could Sam feed on her? How about that Crone? Questions later, she's the one who owes the most answers right now.
"Not quite the same kind of dragon, but a similar being, yes-"
Oh, there she is.
"Hello again!", says Etta, walking up to Taylor, and asking in a half-whisper: "You know undead people? I'd read about them, but was never sure they existed in the material world! There's so much out there I'd never have suspected... sorry, I'm getting excited, it's all so new for me."
With a normal voice, she adds: "I hate these guys. I just avoid confrontation so that I don't attract attention. Besides, there isn't much I can do with them."

Rater202

2015-07-07, 09:56 AM

Well, to be fair, I knew Sam before she was undead-At least, I'm pretty suuure she wasn't a vampire back in highschool.

So, I don't know everything, I only realized what my dreams really meant recently, but I'll try to be as open as possible-I'll answer your questions, you answer mine, okay?

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-07, 03:39 PM

Etta nods. "Sounds fair. I'll start. If you could go back to the way you were - used to think you were, you know, human, normal... would you? Because I wouldn't."
Making sure they're on the same brainwave.

Entelechy

2015-07-07, 03:44 PM

"The meanings of words. Imprecise semantics leads to misunderstandings, and there's few things I hate more than communication gone awry. So, so much of my childhood would have been nicer if I could talk to my Soul..."

"But that is neither here nor there. I ask again; do you know of any suspicious sailors with ties to the police?"

The Erelim and Father Grebet

Teeth briefly flash in the shadow, and then the Erelim melts back into it. When she speaks again, the voice comes from the shadows under Father Grebet's clothes. "You speak to a Namtaru. We are misunderstandings and the cracks in the world where Mother's Shadow falls. So I don't think I like your semantics much. But while I do enjoy playing with cops, I don't know if I've seen any sailors with them. Shame. Those white uniforms would be fun to play in."

Rater202

2015-07-07, 03:56 PM

Leliel

2015-07-07, 08:46 PM

The Erelim and Father Grebet

Teeth briefly flash in the shadow, and then the Erelim melts back into it. When she speaks again, the voice comes from the shadows under Father Grebet's clothes. "You speak to a Namtaru. We are misunderstandings and the cracks in the world where Mother's Shadow falls. So I don't think I like your semantics much. But while I do enjoy playing with cops, I don't know if I've seen any sailors with them. Shame. Those white uniforms would be fun to play in."

"Ah, My apologies," he says, sounding genuinely apologetic. "Well, if you live here, I know of a sister that works at a Taco Bell near here. I often eat there between services."

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-09, 04:11 AM

I can't think of anyone who would.

How long has it been since you came home?

"I wouldn't know. Well, there was that other one, that other Beast I'd met before. But we didn't really get to talk and didn't decide on a place to meet later because my manager was tailing me.
I've only came home last year. I've since hit the library. For information."
Etta thinks a little before asking in return: "Is anybody else in your family - your human family - like us?"
So far, nobody else in her own had a Homecoming as far as she knows, and there doesn't seem to be a hereditary factor, but her samples are tiny, and she's a bit afraid of the prospect any one of them could turn up and claim an even stronger bond to her.

Entelechy

2015-07-09, 12:03 PM

"Ah, My apologies," he says, sounding genuinely apologetic. "Well, if you live here, I know of a sister that works at a Taco Bell near here. I often eat there between services."

Erelim slips out of the Grebet's clothes' shadow, and materializes again behind him. She sets a hand on his shoulder. "Keeping in mind my nature, my Namtaru heart, please hear me say when I say that Taco Bell is revolting and you need to make better life choices. But I suppose I'm always up for meeting more cousins. Speaking of, if you haven't given up on finding your sailor, I know someone who might be able to help, if anyone can."

Rater202

2015-07-09, 01:38 PM

"I wouldn't know. Well, there was that other one, that other Beast I'd met before. But we didn't really get to talk and didn't decide on a place to meet later because my manager was tailing me.
I've only came home last year. I've since hit the library. For information."
Etta thinks a little before asking in return: "Is anybody else in your family - your human family - like us?"
So far, nobody else in her own had a Homecoming as far as she knows, and there doesn't seem to be a hereditary factor, but her samples are tiny, and she's a bit afraid of the prospect any one of them could turn up and claim an even stronger bond to her.

No.

I'm not so certain that the Dark Mother's Bloodline is a genetic one, rather than a metaphysical one.

I mean, I figure if one of us had a kid, it'd be more likely to have a Beast soul than if two normals started boinking, but I don't think it's like, genetic.

So, what exactly are you supposed to be, anyway? I mean, I'm a dragon, and I've seen a couple in passing who were like me, except they were like, trolls or something, but what I've seen of your Soul just...

Ravian

2015-07-09, 11:47 PM

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[With Blaine O'Lorry]

"If Shelob ordering lunch gives them goose bumps, I can't help but wonder how they feel about working for a cave troll," Rachel responds with a wicked grin.

"As for what I'm doing in this city, I already told you I'm a freshman at MCU. Associates program in journalism, specifically. I have a certain... taste for secrets, you see, and they do say you should love your work."

By the time she finishes that last sentence her grin is back, even wider and more predatory than before. Rachel is clearly enjoying herself.

"Lucky for me, not only does Midway City University have one of the best journalism programs in the country, from what I hear the city itself is practically oozing with juicy, delectable secrets just waiting to be gobbled up and splashed on the front page."

If Blaine couldn't tell before that this is Rachel's way of describing her Hunger, he probably can now that she's just literally licked her lips.

"But enough about me, what's your story? Your Soul looks nearly as full as you do, does it eat here or some place else?"

Speaking of which, if Blaine shook Rachel's hand or patted her on the back or some such at any point up to now then you owe me one "damning fact" about him, preferably a dark secret or the closest thing he has to one.:smalltongue:

(Man I love this atavism already. And don't worry, I have no plans for PvP any time soon, I just figure as long as that effect is on I might as well use it.:smallamused:)

Blaine O'Lorry- With Rachel

Blaine frowned. "These Faerie folk are a twitchy lot, I'd be careful about messing with them. They tend towards breaking over bending when you push um, and a broken changeling is a dangerous thing, even to us monsters. Something about their stay with the gentle-whatsits that makes them like that. Took me a couple years and about a dozen pledges before I convinced most of them I wouldn't cook them into a pie. And speaking of which, the term is Fomorian, not cave troll, I looked it up myself." he beamed, seeming somewhat proud of this fact. "Crazy stuff those Irish legends, I always figured it was all leprechauns and Blarney Stones before my homecoming."

"As for my own eating habits. This fine establishment caters to more than casual dining tastes, and there's nothing that soothes the savage beast for me like being able to lord it over everyone else. Eating at O'Lorry's is like eating at my home, and while I consider myself a fine host, no one forgets who that host is."

Blaine's far too friendly (and has far too little contact with that kind of power) to go without a handshake. So You know that he cheats on his taxes for his restaurant. He doesn't take too much, merely enough to put away for his dream of another branch. Mostly it's just his own pride that he's paying others for property that he considers to be rightfully his. He worries night and day that the city's going to find out and take his restaurant because of this.

Leliel

2015-07-09, 11:49 PM

Erelim slips out of the Grebet's clothes' shadow, and materializes again behind him. She sets a hand on his shoulder. "Keeping in mind my nature, my Namtaru heart, please hear me say when I say that Taco Bell is revolting and you need to make better life choices. But I suppose I'm always up for meeting more cousins. Speaking of, if you haven't given up on finding your sailor, I know someone who might be able to help, if anyone can."

"Really? Where!?"

He sounds a bit...excited at that. It wouldn't take long for a Beast to realize there's some expectation of feasting there.

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-10, 09:11 AM

Sith_Happens

2015-07-10, 01:50 PM

Blaine O'Lorry- With Rachel

Blaine frowned. "These Faerie folk are a twitchy lot, I'd be careful about messing with them. They tend towards breaking over bending when you push um, and a broken changeling is a dangerous thing, even to us monsters. Something about their stay with the gentle-whatsits that makes them like that. Took me a couple years and about a dozen pledges before I convinced most of them I wouldn't cook them into a pie. And speaking of which, the term is Fomorian, not cave troll, I looked it up myself." he beamed, seeming somewhat proud of this fact. "Crazy stuff those Irish legends, I always figured it was all leprechauns and Blarney Stones before my homecoming."

"As for my own eating habits. This fine establishment caters to more than casual dining tastes, and there's nothing that soothes the savage beast for me like being able to lord it over everyone else. Eating at O'Lorry's is like eating at my home, and while I consider myself a fine host, no one forgets who that host is."

Blaine's far too friendly (and has far too little contact with that kind of power) to go without a handshake. So You know that he cheats on his taxes for his restaurant. He doesn't take too much, merely enough to put away for his dream of another branch. Mostly it's just his own pride that he's paying others for property that he considers to be rightfully his. He worries night and day that the city's going to find out and take his restaurant because of this.

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[With Blaine O'Lorry]
[About three years ago]

"'Homecoming...' What a peculiar choice of word..."

Rachel stares ponderously into her lemonade as she gently swirls it.

"The term did occur to me early on, no doubt courtesy of my connection to the Dark Mother, but it isn't one I'd use myself. Experiences will vary of course, but for me the night I confronted my Soul was when I discovered who I am. I'm still trying to find where I belong, though I have a good feeling about Midway City so far. It's nearly imperceptible, but there's definitely a distinct aura of dread in the air around here, as if a host of things are waiting for the chance to claw their way into the world. Not to mention I can sense we're not the only Beasts in town, though I haven't the faintest idea how to go about searching for the others.

Anyways, how long has it been since your... homecoming? You seem pretty settled in to life in the world of the supernatural, which I imagine isn't a quick or easy feat even for us Begotten. I've only been at this about a year myself, and before moving here to Midway six weeks ago I was the only monster in my hometown to boot."

Rater202

2015-07-10, 02:25 PM

She smiles cunningly and replies with the kind of excitation she rarely gets to show. "You know the Gorgon? I'm not her main aspect, those one whose very sight strikes deep into the heart of men. Instead... do you realize how many eyes possesses something who has snakes for hair? Some portray her with leathery wings, too, do you imagine how much one could see while being unseen, shielded by the elements?
Okay, my Soul is not really an aspect of Medusa at all, truth be told, but its shape is close. More like the shadow that follows you even in the worst weather, even when there's a hailstorm, I'm still watching somewhere closer than you think. People don't like bats nor snakes, and I'm the best of both worlds!
How about you? Dragon dragon, or one of the many monsters similar to dragons?"

You ever read the Hobbit, or see the movies? You know that, "I am Smaug" speech? "My fangs are swords, my scales many fold shields, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death" or something like that? I've only tapped into the smallest part of my power, but from what it did in my nightmares, from before I came home, that sounds like a pretty good description of my Soul.

So, what do you hunger for?

Entelechy

2015-07-11, 07:21 PM

"Really? Where!?"

He sounds a bit...excited at that. It wouldn't take long for a Beast to realize there's some expectation of feasting there.

There Erelim grins, and reaches to the pocket that Grebet keeps his phone in. "Lend me your phone," she says.

I figure I could use shadows to scout out its location. If you don't want Erelim rooting it out of your pocket herself, you can intercept her.

Leliel

2015-07-12, 12:28 AM

There Erelim grins, and reaches to the pocket that Grebet keeps his phone in. "Lend me your phone," she says.

I figure I could use shadows to scout out its location. If you don't want Erelim rooting it out of your pocket herself, you can intercept her.

Grebert feels a sudden surge of protectiveness, and grabs his phone himself...

Briefly, before his mind catches up with his instincts, and he (reluctantly) hands it to her.

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-12, 04:39 PM

You ever read the Hobbit, or see the movies? You know that, "I am Smaug" speech? "My fangs are swords, my scales many fold shields, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death" or something like that? I've only tapped into the smallest part of my power, but from what it did in my nightmares, from before I came home, that sounds like a pretty good description of my Soul.

So, what do you hunger for?

" 'My teeth are like swords'... so it is.
I hunger for destruction. Of things and bonds that should have disappeared already. I just like things that are gone. They tend to show up in the dream I inhabit, too. Not the real deal, but close enough for those who miss them."
Her eagerness fades, giving place to a melancholy. "You?"

Rater202

2015-07-12, 07:25 PM

Taylor smiles.

You know, there's a bit of a chicken and egg scenario without kind-do we inspire the legends, or do our souls take inspiration from those legends.

I got really into reading about the occult, when I was younger, when I realized the monster hurting me in the dreams was a dragon.

You know, every culture in the world has a dragon, or something like it.

They say that, when the first men began to think, began to leave the trees for the savanna and the deserts, before man ever crawled out of africa, that the biggest predators picking off early men were snakes, cats, birds of prey, and crocodiles.

What do you get when you add that all together? A Dragon, that's what.

The dragon is the ultimate predator, and recognition of that fact and the power that comes with it, that's what my soul craves, be it in others acknowledging me as such or from the rush I get when I prove my physical superiority to someone.

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-13, 12:04 PM

"A hunter, heh?"
Etta would think harder about the implications if she wasn't so damn happy to just have such an exchange with a peer.
"I've got like a thousand more questions, but if I keep going, we're going to spend the whole night chatting, and we both have work to do - I assume you do as well. We should... we should..."
The girl thinks hard.
"You know, I should go and meet all the other Beasts in town even if I have to take days off, but before I do that, perhaps... perhaps we should meet again in the Primordial Dream. Your place or mine. Just once or twice, so we can share more without constraints. Just... I have one last question for tonight. You... you haven't come across a young guy with a big mass of black hair? Name's Jerry. That's the name he goes by, maybe he's changed. He tends to get in trouble, so he's hard not to notice if you see him."

Rater202

2015-07-13, 12:40 PM

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-13, 02:20 PM

"Tyrant, so if it's not about the hunt, it's about... ooooh, okay! The result. The superiority."
Still a lot to learn.
"No Jerry? I'll have to keep looking for the poor guy. Anyway, yeah, I did expand my Lair a little, it's just very rainy, hope you wouldn't mind..."
She stop to think a little again, and starts hesitating, biting her lip.
"... it's kind of an important place, though. It's a personal one. Not all of it, but you'd have to pass there anyway. I have a hard time imagining someone who's not a target or a friend there. Even if they're a peer. On second thought, I'll need some time to think about it. To be ready for guests."
Etta grimaces. "You probably feel the same way anyway about your Lair, don't you?"

Rater202

2015-07-13, 02:29 PM

I don't really have that problem, since there aren't many people who can even get into mine.

Extreme heat. I have to get in by climbing into a lit fireplace.

Sith_Happens

2015-07-13, 05:47 PM

Grebert feels a sudden surge of protectiveness, and grabs his phone himself...

Briefly, before his mind catches up with his instincts, and he (reluctantly) hands it to her.

I'm going to go ahead and take the liberty of putting the scene change here. Mostly because I'm bored and impatient.:smalltongue:
[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[Two weeks ago]
[Streets of Midway, late at night]

Rachel's phone begins to vibrate in her jacket. Taking it out, she sees a number she doesn't recognize. Not at all unusual; between clients calling her for the first time, the frequent use of burner phones in both her lines of work, and paranoid supernaturals changing numbers every other week, Rachel had already stopped trying to keep her contact list updated years ago. Not that she needs a contact list in the first place, not with her memory.

"Hello, and you might be?"

Entelechy

2015-07-14, 09:57 AM

Grebert feels a sudden surge of protectiveness, and grabs his phone himself...

Briefly, before his mind catches up with his instincts, and he (reluctantly) hands it to her.

"Thank you," the Erelim says, taking the phone. She dials a number from memory, "Hello cousin, its your cousin. I'm here with a curious new cousin."

Sith_Happens

2015-07-14, 10:47 AM

"Thank you," the Erelim says, taking the phone. She dials a number from memory, "Hello cousin, its your cousin. I'm here with a curious new cousin."

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[On the phone]

"Oh, hey Arel. You found another one, you say? Do go on."

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-14, 12:04 PM

I don't really have that problem, since there aren't many people who can even get into mine.

Extreme heat. I have to get in by climbing into a lit fireplace.

"Lucky! I'll have to think about something more accessible like that. So... let's at least trade numbers? I'll let you know when and where we can meet. Once I'm ready."
Gonna have to think long and hard about this one. Just because they're spiritual family doesn't mean you can trust them blindly.

We'll be able to timeskip if you agree with that arrangement; it's going to rely on the weather forecast and have to be rainy and in a deserted street, or somewhere equally rainy and swamp-y.

Rater202

2015-07-14, 04:44 PM

Taylor writes down a cell number and Gives it to Etta.

Down the hall, the sound of a Shower Running can be heard. Mwahahahahahaha!

Entelechy

2015-07-15, 09:46 AM

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[On the phone]

"Oh, hey Arel. You found another one, you say? Do go on."

"Well he hasn't paid my toll yet, so that's going to be fun. Pretty starched, and talks a bunch to ghosts. Or maybe they just order him around a bunch. Yes, that seems much more likely. Anyway. He's looking for sailors and cops. Maybe he already has a cowboy, a construction worker, a leatheryman, and Native American. I think I priest would make a great addition to that line up." the Erelim says casually as she puts the phone on speakerphone and starts poking around at the phone's contents while she talks.

Rachel would know that before the Erelim will really accept anyone as a friend (or truly respect them), they need to "pay her toll," the longer they take, the bigger the toll. Erelim is Namtaru, which means she is a beast of revulsion. Specifically, she is revulsion at transgression. So her "toll" is a meaningful act of transgression. She offered Grebet a chance to pay his toll right away, but he refused. The Erelim has not forgotten, and will still require the toll paid in some way to get into her good graces.

Sith_Happens

2015-07-15, 01:15 PM

"Well he hasn't paid my toll yet, so that's going to be fun. Pretty starched, and talks a bunch to ghosts. Or maybe they just order him around a bunch. Yes, that seems much more likely. Anyway. He's looking for sailors and cops. Maybe he already has a cowboy, a construction worker, a leatheryman, and Native American. I think I priest would make a great addition to that line up." the Erelim says casually as she puts the phone on speakerphone and starts poking around at the phone's contents while she talks.

Rachel would know that before the Erelim will really accept anyone as a friend (or truly respect them), they need to "pay her toll," the longer they take, the bigger the toll. Erelim is Namtaru, which means she is a beast of revulsion. Specifically, she is revulsion at transgression. So her "toll" is a meaningful act of transgression. She offered Grebet a chance to pay his toll right away, but he refused. The Erelim has not forgotten, and will still require the toll paid in some way to get into her good graces.

Rachel sighs bemusedly.

"Oh dear, and what are you charging this time? I hope you're at least giving the poor sap a friends and family discount. Speaking of which, could you hand him the phone? I'm afraid that of your many talents, 'interpreter' is far from one of them."

My guess is that Bruno is going to interject in some fashion at this point, if only on the matter of Erelim combing through his apps/files/photos.

Leliel

2015-07-15, 02:47 PM

"What? No, I shepard them-what are you doing?"

[Once he discovers what]

"Oh. You won't find anything, I use my photos as a cross-reference when I need to look something up, nothing else."

Entelechy

2015-07-15, 04:16 PM

"I am not changing all the contact names in his phone. What more can you ask of me? Also, you're on speaker phone. He can hear you," the Erelim says, "I'm just seeing what you have on here. Being real courteous about it, too."

I would presume all three of us can speak with it on speakerphone, even if Erelim is fiddling with the apps.

Leliel

2015-07-15, 04:19 PM

"I'm Bruno Grebert, by the way. And I heard the part about the discount, it's just that, well, it's not like that's anything alien to me. We all have our desires, don't we?"

Sith_Happens

2015-07-15, 07:37 PM

"What? No, I shepard them-what are you doing?"

[Once he discovers what]

"Oh. You won't find anything, I use my photos as a cross-reference when I need to look something up, nothing else."

"I am not changing all the contact names in his phone. What more can you ask of me? Also, you're on speaker phone. He can hear you," the Erelim says, "I'm just seeing what you have on here. Being real courteous about it, too."

I would presume all three of us can speak with it on speakerphone, even if Erelim is fiddling with the apps.

"I'm Bruno Grebert, by the way. And I heard the part about the discount, it's just that, well, it's not like that's anything alien to me. We all have our desires, don't we?"

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[On speaker-phone with Erelim and Bruno Grebert]

"'Shepard,' you say? I take it that makes you the priest Arel just mentioned? That's an awfully risky profession for someone who consorts with the dead. Sure, there are plenty of mediums and exorcists among the devout, but for each one who makes it work there are ten who get called lunatics, heretics, or witches.

...In fact, perhaps your 'toll' has already been paid, Arel? Last I checked, priests with dark secrets were one of your favorite kinds."

In case you want me to roll that (if not then just ignore this):

Manipulation + Persuasion (7 dice, 9-again):

Initial: [roll0]
9-Again: [roll1]

Looks like it's contested by either Composure + Empathy (5 dice) if an emotional appeal or Composure + Subterfuge (1 die) if an intellectual appeal. I think this is more of the latter but I'll go ahead and roll five dice just in case (it's always possible to just ignore the rightmost four):

Initial: [roll2]
10-Again: [roll3]

EDIT: Narrow victory Rachel, by the same margin regardless of which skill Erelim contests with.
"Anyways, where are you right now, or would you rather meet me some place else? I loath introducing myself to Kin over the phone."

Advance Family Resemblance roll on Bruno, with an extra three dots of Occult from Mimir's Wisdom Satiety expenditure (spending Willpower instead if that matters):

Initial: [roll4]
10-Again: [roll5]

Leliel

2015-07-15, 07:41 PM

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[On speaker-phone with Erelim and Bruno Grebert]

"'Shepard,' you say? I take it that makes you the priest Arel just mentioned? That's an awfully risky profession for someone who consorts with the dead. Sure, there are plenty of mediums and exorcists among the devout, but for each one who makes it work there are ten who get called lunatics, heretics, or witches.

...In fact, perhaps your 'toll' has already been paid, Arel? Last I checked, priests with dark secrets were one of your favorite kinds."

In case you want me to roll that (if not then just ignore this):

Manipulation + Persuasion (7 dice, 9-again):

Initial: [roll0]
9-Again: [roll1]

Looks like it's contested by either Composure + Empathy (5 dice) if an emotional appeal or Composure + Subterfuge (1 die) if an intellectual appeal. I think this is more of the latter but I'll go ahead and roll five dice just in case (it's always possible to just ignore the rightmost four):

Initial: [roll2]
10-Again: [roll3]
"Anyways, where are you right now, or would you rather meet me some place else? I loath introducing myself to Kin over the phone."

Advance Family Resemblance roll on Bruno, with an extra three dots of Occult from Mimir's Wisdom Satiety expenditure (spending Willpower instead if that matters):

Initial: [roll4]
10-Again: [roll5]

"At the docks. And to dispense with my faith for a second-in truth, I became a priest to deal with dark secrets. But that's a story for when you get here; I have a murder to solve, and you might help."

Sith_Happens

2015-07-15, 08:51 PM

"At the docks. And to dispense with my faith for a second-in truth, I became a priest to deal with dark secrets. But that's a story for when you get here; I have a murder to solve, and you might help."

Entelechy, if you need to back up in time by a few seconds to have Arel's response regarding her "toll" happen when you want it, go ahead. Just quote whichever of Rachel's of Bruno's lines it's following so we can tell.
[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]

"A murder, you say? You had my curiosity, but now you have my attention. Meet me at the south-most warehouse on the water.

And, Arel, if you would, there's a leviathan who moved into town not too long ago and usually hangs around the docks at night. If you could find her, she and her friends might be able to lend a hand as well. No hurry though, so feel free to do... whatever it is you do with new Beasts these days. Oh, and make sure to give the good man his phone back first."

Boom, perfect segue into your first post (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19461992&postcount=4).:smallcool:
[About twenty minutes later]

Approaching the warehouse on her motorcycle, Rachel sees a man waiting for her. Or rather, what appears to be none other than the Grim Reaper wearing the body of a man.

Well that's awfully contemporary. I guess not all of the Children come from ancient tales after all.

She parks her bike near the corner of the building, places her helmet on the handlebars, and approaches, subtly scrutinizing her newest relation all the while. The bracelet on her right wrist grows unnaturally cold.

Wits + Subterfuge vs. Wits + Empathy to not outwardly look like she's "studying" him (i.e.- using Eye of Heaven):

Rachel:

Initial: [roll0]
10-Again: [roll1]

Bruno:

Initial: [roll2]
10-Again: [roll3]

EDIT: Drat, foiled again! This dice roller really doesn't like poker faces.:smallsigh:

EDIT 2: Then again, "studying" someone doesn't necessarily mean anything more than "looking at them," so maybe the roll is unnecessary.
"Funny, you look like much more of a Lurker than a Raptor to me. You know, 'solitude in death' and all that. Speaking of which, I see Arel wasn't lying about your having a ghost with you, not that I wouldn't know if she was."

Rachel lifts up her right wrist and pulls down the sleeve slightly, revealing a sterling silver bracelet.

"You like it? Every fourth link is etched with a symbol representing one of the Lords of the Underworld, or so I'm told. Either way the upshot is it helps me know when the ephemeral dead are nearby, seeing as we can only sense them ourselves when they want to be seen. I can point you toward the man who makes these, they're surprisingly pricy though."

Energy Meter, GMC page 242. I assume no one minds if mine are smaller than default (the other is keyed to spirits).
She extends her hand.

"Rachel Hartley. I specialize in information, so tonight is your lucky night."

Bruno's Family Resemblance roll on Rachel:

Initial: [roll4]
10-Again: [roll5]

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-16, 09:22 AM

Taylor writes down a cell number and Gives it to Etta.

Down the hall, the sound of a Shower Running can be heard. Mwahahahahahaha!

A slight shudder runs through Etta's back, thinking something about giving phone numbers to strangers being enough and no need to add addresses.

[6 days later]
[Monday, 9pm]
[Berkeley Lane]

The weather forecast had predicted rain, and sure enough, there is a downpour.
Berkeley Lane is devoid of bars or shops. Hardly anyone can be found there in the evening on a weekday. Which was the intention.
Etta is waiting at the muddy park, wearing a coat but hardly needing it, for the rain doesn't freeze or incommode her. It's a far cry from a swamp, but she can help make it resonate better with her Chamber by imposing her trademark mirages on the area.

Giving a try at the Lair Trait thing. We already have Downpour, I'm trying to add Mirages.
Base Wits + Resolve (4) - 5 (Descriptive Similarity) so that's a chance die. Gonna take advantage of the fact there isn't a stated downside to regular Failure or Dramatic Failure to try: [roll0]
EDIT: welp, good thing the Dramatic Failure isn't stated there.
No need to roll actually.

Between the raindrops, shapes and silhouettes appear, vague but enough to fool one that there is a small crowd walking around.
(Something that Taylor is not supposed to be fooled by, actually.)

Rater202

2015-07-16, 01:35 PM

It's not long before Taylor's there, bundled up as if this was a biblical flood level storm of freezing rain, and carrying an umbrella.

So...

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-16, 02:49 PM

"Hi. I'll hold the door for you."
The environment shifts. It's difficult to make out what's going on precisely, what with the wandering shapes in the rain.
And then the tan girl with short, curly dark hair's image vanishes, superimposed with the image of a serpentine monster, its tail easily twice as long as a human is tall, a humanoid bust with large leathery wings for arms, and a smooth head, crowned with uncountable tentacles, jet black, ending each with jaw-like hands and a round, red eye, individually weak, but whose number easily allows for snatching. With such colors, the creature can easily go unseen in bad weather.
The park is like a swamp - is that a tent over there? - but a few streetlights are visible in the corner.
The Ugallu speaks. "The Burrow is over there. Let's go before the Pathway closes."

Rolling because failure can be amusing in a "sorry, it's my first time" kind of way, and exceptional success could bring amusing stuff if some fool steps through.
Primordial Pathway + Hold the Door!
Wits + Resolve +2 (Lair traits in common): [roll0]
10-again: [roll1]

Rater202

2015-07-16, 04:04 PM

Taylor enters the lair.

Nice Place. Bit to rainy for my preferences, but well...

Entelechy

2015-07-16, 07:23 PM

And, Arel, if you would, there's a leviathan who moved into town not too long ago and usually hangs around the docks at night. If you could find her, she and her friends might be able to lend a hand as well. No hurry though, so feel free to do... whatever it is you do with new Beasts these days. Oh, and make sure to give the good man his phone back first."
C'nor and I already started a conservation, but she doesn't seem to be active in the game right now. Until she is back OCC, I can't continue my conversation with her IC. Right now, IC, Erelim would be spending about one in five seconds with her senses extended through the shadows to where Kira is, waiting for her to be alone.

"If we are talking about the same woman, I got my eyes on her right now. I'm just waiting for her to say hello," The Erelim says.

Rachel lifts up her right wrist and pulls down the sleeve slightly, revealing a sterling silver bracelet.

"You like it? Every fourth link is etched with a symbol representing one of the Lords of the Underworld, or so I'm told. Either way the upshot is it helps me know when the ephemeral dead are nearby, seeing as we can only sense them ourselves when they want to be seen. I can point you toward the man who makes these, they're surprisingly pricy though."

"Good to know I'm not dead, anyway," The Erelim says, melting out of shadows behind Rachel and into corporeality.

"Rachel Hartley. I specialize in information, so tonight is your lucky night."

"I'll vouch for that. Don't really know how she does it. My eyes never end, and I don't think I see as much as she."

Sith_Happens

2015-07-16, 09:21 PM

"Good to know I'm not dead, anyway," The Erelim says, melting out of shadows behind Rachel and into corporeality.

"I'll vouch for that. Don't really know how she does it. My eyes never end, and I don't think I see as much as she."

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[The docks]
[With Bruno Grebert and Erelim]

Rachel twists her neck slightly to address her mercurial friend.

"Oh, there you are Arel. You never answered my question before. About whether Mr. Grebert's 'toll' is prepaid by virtue of his invisible friend? Though I suppose your silence probably meant 'no.'"

She turns back to face Grebert.

"It's too bad you weren't keeping any unsavory photos in that phone of yours, they would have saved you a lot of trouble. Erelim and cultural taboos don't really get along, you see; you don't even want to know what I had to do before she finally stopped bugging me about it.

But enough about prancing naked through the rain or whatever it is Arel's into this week. Tell me about this murder case of yours. Or perhaps your ghostly companion is able to materialize and tell us itself? I'm going to take a wild guess that they were the victim."

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-17, 05:12 AM

Taylor enters the lair.

Nice Place. Bit to rainy for my preferences, but well...

Etta's Soul passes between more streetlights, around a small, paved path. The Pathway closes too late to eject them; the duo ends up in the middle of a broad and very deserted street, each flickering streetlight standing at a different height. The facades of the houses are washed up.
The Ugallu grabs the tallest perch with her prehensile tail and hangs upside down, like a bat.
"Rain cleans, redeems and washes down the pain, but it won't do any of it if there's no pain to take", says the creature. "And it keeps what it's taken. This is why it rains here."
Silhouettes wander aimlessly, here one moment, gone the next. The vague, unreal image of a speeding car with half-working lights appears in the distance, but vanishes between raindrops well before it reaches the occupants.
"Welcome to the Deluge of the Departed."
Each of the many red eyes has a predatory gleam to it; as much as the Lair is an intimate place, it's also a fortress, lending strength to the owner. Taylor is theoretically at her mercy, separated from her Soul. Nothing funny can be attempted, or pain will drop from above. Hell, preemptive measures could very well be taken, and there'd be no one left to protest.
But they won't.
There's no reason to betray Etta, and Etta has none to trap Taylor, right? They're family now.
Tay's not feeling the downpour.

Rater202

2015-07-17, 03:05 PM

Yes, but it also makes things cold and wet and dark and dreary. As a creature of sky and flame, my Soul and I prefer warmer and sunnier weather.

...And I'm not feeling the rain. Just noticed that. Weird.

So, now what?

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-17, 04:38 PM

"Now, you die, Mister Bond. Just kidding. I've shown mine, you show yours. This is only fair."
There would be something instinctively amusing in pulling a scare on Tay at this moment - soaring high, unseen, and stalk her for a bit while she looks for the exit and go 'boo' at the last moment - but that would be in poor taste, and much more worthwhile with mortals. Maybe for later, as the kind of things annoying little sisters do.
"Let's go out!"

Rater202

2015-07-17, 06:57 PM

Well, if you want to see my place so bad...

Taylor tries to open a pathway from Etta's lair to her own.

[roll0]

Not good, but it worked. Taylor begins hading through, becoming her soul in the process, and hoping Etta will follow the dragon into the maze of stone and magma.

Leliel

2015-07-17, 10:41 PM

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[The docks]
[With Bruno Grebert and Erelim]

Rachel twists her neck slightly to address her mercurial friend.

"Oh, there you are Arel. You never answered my question before. About whether Mr. Grebert's 'toll' is prepaid by virtue of his invisible friend? Though I suppose your silence probably meant 'no.'"

She turns back to face Grebert.

"It's too bad you weren't keeping any unsavory photos in that phone of yours, they would have saved you a lot of trouble. Erelim and cultural taboos don't really get along, you see; you don't even want to know what I had to do before she finally stopped bugging me about it.

But enough about prancing naked through the rain or whatever it is Arel's into this week. Tell me about this murder case of yours. Or perhaps your ghostly companion is able to materialize and tell us itself? I'm going to take a wild guess that they were the victim."

That explained some things, he thought.

"Herself, actually. And yes. Trick of my own Lair, to create a temporary anchor-Ladonna?"

While the ghost doesn't physically appear, the impression of an elderly, matronly black woman in a run-down sundress appears inside the minds of Erelim and Rachel.

"So, you're those other 'nephilim' he keeps on sermoning us about," the impression of a reedy voice having spoken...speaks. "Thank the Lord. Hearing it secondhand all the danggone time, it makes an old woman a little irritable, can I just say?"

"I don't like to beat around the bush anymore, it's a lot harder to talk when you don't have your body. I am indeed the victim of the day, body thrown over the pier. That, and the smell of seawater's what tipped me off to it being a sailor. I'm sure you know about the fact that it happened just a little after I gave the boys in blue a little tip about packages that didn't look like no Chinese crap being where they shouldn't be, and I knew the gangs were all excited about something."

"Need anything else?"

Sith_Happens

2015-07-18, 01:59 PM

[Snip]

"Need anything else?"

"'Nephilim...?'"

Rachel raises a quizzical eyebrow towards Grebert.

"If you're talking about giants no one here resembles any such thing, though Arel and I brood with someone who does."

As for what I need from you—"

The young woman directs her gaze back to Ladonna, who can once again see her Soul overlapping her, staring intently... this time at Ladonna herself.

Eye of Heaven, of course. I won't bother making you actually come up with any of Ladonna's traits, at least not unless any of them become relevant later.

It also occurred to me that she would have been able to see Rachel's Soul earlier while the latter was Eye of Heaven'ing Grebert, though the question is whether Ladonna knows to think anything of a seemingly random moment of Soul-visibility or if she'd just ignore it.
"—Details would be a good start. Where were you killed? How long ago? Cause of death? Did you report what you saw by phone or in person? To which station? Do you know the name of the officer you spoke to?

Really the full story would be best."

Leliel

2015-07-18, 02:10 PM

"—Details would be a good start. Where were you killed? How long ago? Cause of death? Did you report what you saw by phone or in person? To which station? Do you know the name of the officer you spoke to?

Really the full story would be best."

"I don't know the young man's name, but I know he was white, dark-haired, had this odd, rude habit of chewing on soda bottle caps. I had to force myself to not slap it out of his mouth and scold him for not taking care of his teeth right then and there. Raising kids twice over does that to you; my daughter-in-law needed to work too, so it fell to...sorry, I get a little sidetracked sometimes."

"I do know I died on, oh, the 17th of June, two days after I reported it in person to the station on 8th Street. I don't rightly recall how I died, but I do know I was in enough pain to know I was probably beaten, and that when I was quickened and realized I didn't have my body anymore, I was attached to a crab pot along with my old apartment. I'm guessing whoever got rid of me put at least some of my body out for fishes."

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-20, 02:44 PM

Etta separates from her Soul again. Which is unfortunate; flying would have been awfully convenient to avoid the magma.
"That's different", she comments, admiring the place, following Taylor before turning to watch her.

Rater202

2015-07-20, 03:59 PM

It's oddly not vry warm.

The Dragon with Ruby scales and a crown of black horns that glow like coals leads Etta to a pile of warped and semi melted coins of every precious or semiprecious metal you can think of.

Welcome to my Heart, Etta. Don't steal the TV.

And then like that they were forced out(Back to Etta's?)

Sorry about that. Didn't know that would happen. It's my first time with someone else.

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-20, 04:38 PM

It was a lot like being propelled by a giant catapult, all the way from one part of the Primordial Dream to another, even no actual movement was endured.
Merged again with her Soul, Etta blinks disorderly, holding her head between her wings.
She emerges from her stupor with a very toothy grin.
(The corners of her mouth being pulled each by a hand-tentacle, by the way, as if unable to move otherwise.)
"No wonder you're a Tyrant! This is glorious! This is awesome, as in, properly worthy of awe! Heeeeeeeeh... how come you can't keep it open like mine? Is it just your Heart?"

Rater202

2015-07-20, 04:41 PM

Yeah. Like I said the other day, I haven't gotten around to renovating.

Entelechy

2015-07-20, 09:49 PM

"Do you want me to take a gander for your body? All the ocean's in the shadow of the water, and there's nothing in shadow I can't see. Given enough time to look," There Erelim says with a wink. "Or I could take a walk through the cop shop. Raise a little hell and muck through their paperwork. See if I can find where your report ended up."

Sith_Happens

2015-07-20, 10:15 PM

Hope you don't mind if I mess with the in-character speaking order/timing a bit, Entelechy. You did kind of ninja me.:smalltongue:

"I don't know the young man's name, but I know he was white, dark-haired, had this odd, rude habit of chewing on soda bottle caps. I had to force myself to not slap it out of his mouth and scold him for not taking care of his teeth right then and there. Raising kids twice over does that to you; my daughter-in-law needed to work too, so it fell to...sorry, I get a little sidetracked sometimes."

"I do know I died on, oh, the 17th of June, two days after I reported it in person to the station on 8th Street. I don't rightly recall how I died, but I do know I was in enough pain to know I was probably beaten, and that when I was quickened and realized I didn't have my body anymore, I was attached to a crab pot along with my old apartment. I'm guessing whoever got rid of me put at least some of my body out for fishes."

Rachel looks slightly confused for a few seconds before beginning to speak.

"That's impressive, you managed to give conflicting accounts of what happened to your body a minute apart without having any idea you were doing it. Eh, no matter, you'd be surprised the sorts of things that can happen to a ghost's memory and faculties. Matter of fact you're practically a savant compared to most of the ones I've met personally before now.

As far as the things you do remember, I think I'm nearly at a complete picture for now. All that's left is, did you give the police your name or any identifying or contact information, where were you and what were you doing when the killer struck, and what if anything you do remember about the killer. Height, build, features, voice, anything. From there I'll get ahold of my people and see if I can't get a list of suspects."

"Do you want me to take a gander for your body? All the ocean's in the shadow of the water, and there's nothing in shadow I can't see. Given enough time to look," There Erelim says with a wink. "Or I could take a walk through the cop shop. Raise a little hell and muck through their paperwork. See if I can find where your report ended up."

"Um, pretty sure you're going to have to get in the water to get to its shadow. Do you not still need to breathe while melded? If it's ever come up then I wasn't there. As for that other idea... Let's wait a bit on that. Last thing we need is to draw attention to ourselves this early in the game."

I took the liberty of cutting and pasting some of what was originally in this post into a later post to make for a smoother dialogue. Hope that's okay.:smallsmile:

Entelechy

2015-07-21, 08:49 AM

"Um, pretty sure you're going to have to get in the water to get to its shadow. Do you not still need to breathe while melded? If it's ever come up then I wasn't there."

The Erelim laughs and shakes her head. "What a fantastic underestimation. You must think so little of me."

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-21, 09:14 AM

"That's really something that should be fixed ASAP. Have you got a place in mind to add?"
Etta reopens the Pathway, back to where they came from in the real world.

Not rolling this time; failure wouldn't add much.

Rater202

2015-07-21, 01:48 PM

Not really. It's gotta be a good place, but it' also gotta be similar enough to what I've already got.

Mazes and hot places aren't too common around here.

I'd love to add a mountain, but a trip out to the rockies is a bit inconvenient right now.

Sith_Happens

2015-07-22, 12:59 PM

I cut and pasted part of my previous post into this one to smooth up the flow of dialogue. Hopefully that's an okay thing to do.

The Erelim laughs and shakes her head. "What a fantastic underestimation. You must think so little of me."

"I assume you mean the 'searching the ocean' part. If you say so. I just wasn't sure if maybe the surface of the water would interfere with... But never mind, that's not how light works so why would shadows be different... Except a table can break up a shadow given the right circumstances... GAH."

Rachel suddenly looks slightly pained.

"Once again, Arel, you are one of the very few people in this city capable of making my head hurt."

She turns back to Ladonna.

"...Actually, I suppose I should ask how much exactly needs doing here. I have my own interests in these sorts of cases, but it's pretty clear Father Grebert here is hoping to put you to rest and if you're here with him then you're probably after the same thing. Any inkling what exactly that will take? Do you just need to know whodunit, or are you stuck here until some sort of justice gets done? Does it matter who the rat at the station was or just the killer? It's okay if you don't know the answer, if every ghost knew what their unfinished business actually was there wouldn't be nearly as many of the suckers floating around at once."

Leliel

2015-07-25, 08:06 PM

"...Actually, I suppose I should ask how much exactly needs doing here. I have my own interests in these sorts of cases, but it's pretty clear Father Grebert here is hoping to put you to rest and if you're here with him then you're probably after the same thing. Any inkling what exactly that will take? Do you just need to know whodunit, or are you stuck here until some sort of justice gets done? Does it matter who the rat at the station was or just the killer? It's okay if you don't know the answer, if every ghost knew what their unfinished business actually was there wouldn't be nearly as many of the suckers floating around at once."

"I honestly believe it's that she wants her family to know who it was."

"Far as I can tell. I made my peace with being old a long time ago. I may have a large blank spot between crawling out of that crab pot and death, but I do know my last thought was being upset my family would never knew what happened to me, or why."

"And I did give my real name; I wanted to come off as being more credible than the average confidential informant. I had nothing to gain or hide by that info."

Sith_Happens

2015-07-26, 02:22 AM

"I honestly believe it's that she wants her family to know who it was."

"Far as I can tell. I made my peace with being old a long time ago. I may have a large blank spot between crawling out of that crab pot and death, but I do know my last thought was being upset my family would never knew what happened to me, or why."

"And I did give my real name; I wanted to come off as being more credible than the average confidential informant. I had nothing to gain or hide by that info."

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[The docks, night]
[With Bruno, Erelim, and Ladonna]

"'Why' is the easy part, at least if the text I got five minutes ago is from who I think it is."

Rachel removes a phone from inside her jacket and begins to check her messages.

Rachel contacted her Staff immediately after getting off the phone with Bruno and Erelim; collectively they can automatically achieve a single success on any Streetwise action that isn't contested, in this case to know what sort of criminal activity is currently dominant (or at least reputed to be dominant) at the docks.
"...Just as I thought, chances are what you saw was a Russian drug smuggling operation. Old news, really, except that they've recently started moving a lot more volume to keep up with demand. Hence why they went to the trouble of taking care of you rather than just trusting you to not follow up after your report gets 'lost;' you can't be too cautious when you're expanding your business."

Rachel sounds incredibly matter-of-fact while explaining this, as if the fact that she's discussing an actual person's untimely death is beside the point.

"Anyways, before you ask, my informants are already working on a list of the Russians' known and suspected enforcers and hit men for us to narrow down. That's going to take time, though, and I might end up needing to do some legwork myself even if only to verify it. In the meantime, whatever trail you and Father Grebert were hoping to pick up here at the docks would have long since gone cold.

Why don't you wander around on your own for a bit and see if you can sense anything? For all we know you've anchored to your killer and it's just a matter of getting close enough to him. Also I'd like to speak with Father Grebert in private. It's about... 'Nephilim' things I suppose is the best way to put it?"

As long as she's back within the hour she won't bleed any essence, so there's nothing stopping her from complying.

Leliel

2015-07-26, 04:33 PM

"I'll see what I can find."

With that, the impression of mental image of Ladonna vanishes, with a sense of someone having left.

For his part, Grebert seems to have been lost in thought, a bit.

"...Have you ever heard of the Book of Enoch?"

Entelechy

2015-07-26, 11:44 PM

The Erelim's smiles at the mention of the Russians.

"Russian smugglers, eh? Do they get high on their own supply? Think they might like to dance themselves to death?"

At the preacher's question, she shakes her head, "Enoch? Noah's Grandpa? Sadly, I know my Bible, but there isn't a book of Enoch."

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-27, 06:34 AM

"I see."
Etta hadn't thought about it a lot; the first Chamber she'd added was one with personal significance that turned out to resonate with the Heart already present, by chance.
"We should really meet the other Beasts in town. Watch out for each other, help expand our places. It must be awful, being the only one in a given location without any cousin. Is that even possible, being that lonely?"

Leliel

2015-07-27, 11:12 AM

At the preacher's question, she shakes her head, "Enoch? Noah's Grandpa? Sadly, I know my Bible, but there isn't a book of Enoch."

"Not one accepted in general canon. Probably not one written by Enoch himself either, or even a single person-the five sections are believed to be five different stories. But I am most concerned with the first."

"The work 'Nephilim', besides being a term for a lineage of my fellows I haven't actually met yet, is technically part of the full Bible, but it's a single line in a much larger story, tales of monstrous heroes, uncapitalized, who strode the Earth openly in those days. The first section of Enoch tells of how they came to be-the sons and daughters of angels who fell from heaven's grace not out of pride, but love. The scholars I'm aware of called them monsters, and what apocrypha I can find calls them creatures of passion and hunger, combining divine power and eldritch form with a human mind and desires. Desires for wealth, for ruination of their enemies, for power, for food...do you follow the analogy?"

"And then there is Lilith, Adam's first wife, not born of his rib but of the Earth. And a lot more independent than Eve ever was, given how she left soon after to explore the world-and it is said, is a mother to monsters."

"They never said her children couldn't be adopted."

"There's more in my view of things, but I despise evangelizing to people who don't want to hear it-it simply results in the both of us angry and going nowhere. Wish to hear more than the summary?"

Entelechy

2015-07-27, 12:20 PM

"I think I made my opinion on the Bible clear. Also, what does Apocryphal mean?" The Erelim says.

Rater202

2015-07-27, 01:57 PM

Leliel

2015-07-27, 09:30 PM

"I think I made my opinion on the Bible clear. Also, what does Apocryphal mean?" The Erelim says.

"Is that an actual question or more of your 'remove all your clothes to show me how earnest you are' things? And I respect your beliefs, whatever they are; religion's great sin is assuming that anything that thinks differently from dogma is evil. So I will not preach at you, if you are concerned."

Entelechy

2015-07-27, 10:27 PM

"Not all of us went to school. I just got Bible verses from Mama and the Father till I Came Home to myself and ran off. Only reason I know how to read and what multiplication is is because when I was fourteen or so I spent my days in the shadows of a grade one class. So when I ask what a word means, its because I don't know." The Erelim says, sounding short of temper. Then, she brightens, "But if you're ready to show your sincere interest in being my friend, I've got a lot of suggestions about how you can."

Sith_Happens

2015-07-27, 11:36 PM

Then, she brightens, "But if you're ready to show your sincere interest in being my friend, I've got a lot of suggestions about how you can."

"...I'm going to cut you off right there. As amusing at it might be to watch you and Father Grebert come to terms, I have some things I'd like to ask him before he gets distracted or compromised."

Rachel turns toward Bruno and adjusts her glasses.

"The main thing on my mind right now is, what exactly is your interest in ghosts? Judging by that very interesting Soul of yours I'm going to guess it isn't just a hobby."

Leliel

2015-07-28, 07:51 PM

"The main thing on my mind right now is, what exactly is your interest in ghosts? Judging by that very interesting Soul of yours I'm going to guess it isn't just a hobby."

Grebert sighs, looking up at the sky.

"Redemption, I guess. I wanted it before my homecoming, my Soul decided the same thing."

"It is a long story, but I can give the summarized version; I joined the seminary because I was afraid of what my blood wanted to do. I always had the desire for more things, more knowledge-and whenever I felt someone was frustrating me, I wanted to lash out at that person, make them regret trying to stop me. So to get a handle on my inner demons, and to help others with their own, I became a priest."

"When I finally got sick of it, and told the judging angel of death to just get it over with, though, it told me it wasn't an angel, and it was trying to talk to me. So I listened. When I woke up, I no longer hated myself-but I felt like the other half of me was ashamed of something it, or maybe its ancestors, did. Some great good for the world that was squandered because of its sloth and inability to protect the lost. I suppose that was the story I found, the dereliction of duty from on high for transient lust-but the lost? Well, I'm helping one now, aren't I?"

"And Erelim: First, sorry, and you have my sympathies, petty though they might seem. Second, apocryphal means 'of doubtful veracity.' Er, that is to say, it exists, but actual authorities on the subject doubt how true it is-usually because they don't know the author. Hence, why the Book of Enoch is apocryphal, because nobody has any clue who wrote it."

Entelechy

2015-07-28, 08:23 PM

"So, its toilet stall graffiti?" The Erelim asks, looking pensive and clearly trying to wrap her brain around the new definition.

Leliel

2015-07-28, 08:24 PM

"In particularly obvious cases, yes. But it could just be the authorities are wrong or silenced on the matter."

Sith_Happens

2015-07-29, 09:02 PM

[Rachel, with Erelim and Bruno]

Rachel stays silent for some time, stroking her chin and staring ponderously at the hooded figure looming over her newest associate. Grebert was definitely speaking of it honestly, but that only served to make his words sound even stranger to her.

"Forgive me if this sounds presumptuous, but would it be safe to say that you've, shall we say... interpreted your Soul's desires through the lens of your own beliefs? I'll admit I may be wrong, this is just a gut feeling after all, but no matter which way I come at the problem I simply can't imagine a Begotten being fundamentally driven by such things as shame or redemption. It seems entirely contrary to our nature as living nightmares. As such, if I might ask more specifically: at the base, instinctual level, what do you as a Beast get out of guiding the dead?"

[Beat.]

Suddenly she raises a finger.

"You mentioned a desire for knowledge?"

To be clear, this and all subsequent criticisms/examinations of Grebert's Hunger are being levied purely in-character.

Mono Vertigo

2015-07-30, 05:54 AM

I'm not sure.

"Speaking of being lonely, I've got something to do. Put up posters for my buddy, in case there's somebody who saw him. Do you mind if I put a couple in your mailbox? Maybe ask your vampiric friends? They might have seen things no one else did."
A short pause before speaking again. "It's kind of derisory, putting up posters asking 'have you seen this guy?' when you have access to other realms, but you've got to start somewhere, right?"

Rater202

2015-07-30, 09:49 AM

Yeah. Go ahead. I'll ask around.

Leliel

2015-07-31, 06:14 AM

[Rachel, with Erelim and Bruno]

Rachel stays silent for some time, stroking her chin and staring ponderously at the hooded figure looming over her newest associate. Grebert was definitely speaking of it honestly, but that only served to make his words sound even stranger to her.

"Forgive me if this sounds presumptuous, but would it be safe to say that you've, shall we say... interpreted your Soul's desires through the lens of your own beliefs? I'll admit I may be wrong, this is just a gut feeling after all, but no matter which way I come at the problem I simply can't imagine a Begotten being fundamentally driven by such things as shame or redemption. It seems entirely contrary to our nature as living nightmares. As such, if I might ask more specifically: at the base, instinctual level, what do you as a Beast get out of guiding the dead?"

Suddenly she raises a finger.

"You mentioned a desire for knowledge?"

To be clear, this and all subsequent criticisms/examinations of Grebert's Hunger are being levied purely in-character.

"I'm not so arrogant to assume I'm not. Faith is merely superstition without questioning. And my Soul reacts more easily to the fact I-

He stops when she raises a finger.

[B]"True. I feel more fulfilled knowing more secrets than I did before, and accumulating those does seem to satiate my Hunger."

Sith_Happens

2015-07-31, 05:54 PM

"I'm not so arrogant to assume I'm not. Faith is merely superstition without questioning. And my Soul reacts more easily to the fact I-

He stops when she raises a finger.

"True. I feel more fulfilled knowing more secrets than I did before, and accumulating those does seem to satiate my Hunger."

Upon hearing this, Rachel looks incredibly satisfied with herself.

"Aha, now that I can make a lot more sense of. Matter of fact I know someone else quite similar, though whether you and he would get along is anyone's guess.

Now how does your Lair play into that, if you don't mind explaining? You mentioned something about temporary anchors, which is all kinds of interesting..."

The Glyphstone

2015-08-01, 12:26 AM

Unfortunately for Seth, his puns just gave him away.:smalltongue:
Twang. The man behind the door still knows more than he's letting on. Which in the current context means he's on to her. Drat.

Twang. Saying one thing but meaning another.

Wait, what? The only parts of what he just said that could possibly apply to are...

But I haven't read anyone, which means the only way he could know that is if...

Well this is awkward.

A feeling of twisted amusement suddenly emanates from Valerie's Soul.

Just to be clear, that bit right there is from Soul Communion, only Valerie herself can feel it.

In related news, I suddenly wonder if many Beasts develop anything roughly akin to split personality issues, what with their own souls literally having minds of their own...
Think this is funny, do you? How about I empty your belly right here and now, then we'll see which of us gets the last laugh.

...

Wait a minute... 'The last laugh...'

Relevant rolls (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19500229&postcount=323); both succeeded.
The little jerk is messing with me. Well now the joke's on him...

While normally Valerie would be inclined to cut to the chase upon realizing she's talking to Kin, she decides to make an exception in this case. Firstly, if he's known she's a Beast this whole time and still kept his cards close to his chest then there's no telling if he values his Family at all, at least not without some more probing. Secondly... Well, now that Valerie has seen through the last of her mystery hacker's tricks she can't help but wonder how long she can string him along before he realizes it's him who's being had...

"I understand your concern, it would be quite the pathetic fly to get caught in such a simple trap. I'm trying to track quite the elusive fly myself, hence why I'm here.

As for how I found you, there are forums for that sort of thing. I can't seem to recall your handle, but I believe most people know you as the 'Cheshire Cat?'"

Wits + Subterfuge + [spending Willpower] vs. Wits + Empathy to see if Valerie maintained her poker face upon realizing that Seth is a Beast:

Valerie:

Initial: [roll0]
10-Again: [roll1]

Seth:

Initial: [roll2]
10-Again: [roll3]

EDIT: Holy crap, I just lost a 9 dice vs. 5 dice contest again (first time was versus Blaine).:smallfurious:

...On the bright side, since my roll technically succeeded (just less so than yours) it's not that Valerie's poker face totally breaks, it's more like she momentarily twitches the slightest bit or shows a brief flash of realization or something, and Seth is just observant enough to notice it.

...Wait, he can't see her right now in the first place so the whole thing is moot.:smallredface:

----------

Seth's Wisdom:

Whole thing = withholding information

"Forums for that sort of thing" = misdirection

"...'Cheshire Cat'" = doesn't actually ping on the atavism I don't think, but I'm assuming she just tipped her hand by saying it

----------

Lastly, I just now realized what you did there naming your character "Seth.":smallredface:

Seth chuckles, half-humorously. "Close, my dear, very close. Yes, there are forums for that sort of thing, but I don't make a point of advertising, and for the people who do know of me, I'm simply 'The Cat'. And more importantly, they'd know I only take commissions electronically. You've played the game well, and I applaud you for it, but the name you chose for me tells me what you've come here for, or at least why. If you will swear that I will come to no harm as a direct result of opening my door to you, I will grant you guest-right in my home and we can have an honest talk, one Cousin to another."

Leliel

2015-08-01, 10:45 AM

Upon hearing this, Rachel looks incredibly satisfied with herself.

"Aha, now that I can make a lot more sense of. Matter of fact I know someone else quite similar, though whether you and he would get along is anyone's guess.

Now how does your Lair play into that, if you don't mind explaining? You mentioned something about temporary anchors, which is all kinds of interesting..."

"Want me to show you? I believe it is easier to explain that way."

Sith_Happens

2015-08-02, 12:42 AM

Seth chuckles, half-humorously. "Close, my dear, very close. Yes, there are forums for that sort of thing, but I don't make a point of advertising, and for the people who do know of me, I'm simply 'The Cat'. And more importantly, they'd know I only take commissions electronically. You've played the game well, and I applaud you for it, but the name you chose for me tells me what you've come here for, or at least why. If you will swear that I will come to no harm as a direct result of opening my door to you, I will grant you guest-right in my home and we can have an honest talk, one Cousin to another."

[Rachel (as Valerie)]
[About a year ago]
[Outisde Seth's apartment]

Valerie silently curses herself for making such a stupid mistake, though given their exchange so far it was anyone's guess how much longer she'd have been able to keep up her charade anyways.

She sighs.

"You're quite good yourself, it's been years since the last time anyone saw through my every maneuver as easily as yourself, and I deal regularly with some very formidable people. Though I do have a sneaking suspicion as to what makes you so different...

Anyways, I suppose this makes it time to get down to brass tacks. Whether the two of us are about to come to blows depends entirely on your answer to the following question: What exactly do you plan to do with my data?"

Family Resemblance roll for later, with three extra dots of Occult off of Mimir's Wisdom as will almost certainly be usual for me:

Initial: [roll0]
10-Again: [roll1]

EDIT: Ah, so close to exceptional.

...Actually, it just now occurs to me that given the nature of their interaction so far Rachel would almost certainly want to spend Willpower on that in order to hopefully learn as much about Seth as she can as quickly as possible. Especially given that she almost certainly gained at least one point of Willpower at some point during this conversation anyways (finally settled on "Cunning" Legend and "Curious" Life). Pretty please let me retcon that just this once (in which case here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19616938&postcount=422) are the extra dice)?:smallredface:

"Want me to show you? I believe it is easier to explain that way."

[Rachel (as herself)]
[A few weeks ago]
[The docks, with Erelim and Bruno]

Rachel grins and chuckles a little.

"My, my, that's awfully forward of you. Are you sure you're a priest? Either way I'm afraid I'm not really into older men."

The grin subsides.

"More seriously, I can hardly turn down an invitation to a fellow Beast's Lair... Provided it isn't a trap, of course."

While Rachel can already tell that Grebert's intentions are benign, it never hurts to coax as much from the horse's mouth.

"Are the conditions here right for us to enter? If not there's a Hedge gate nearby we could use."

Leliel

2015-08-02, 12:47 AM

"Not windy enough yet, not at all. The ideal conditions would be a sunny, windy graveyard. And I have not heard of this Hedge before, so I am interested in the knowledge there."

Sith_Happens

2015-08-02, 01:15 AM

"Not windy enough yet, not at all. The ideal conditions would be a sunny, windy graveyard. And I have not heard of this Hedge before, so I am interested in the knowledge there."

Rachel actually laughs out loud, the sound of which would likely unsettle most people.

"It's a good thing I found you when I did, then; wander the Thorns with that attitude and there would hardly be anything left you before the day is up."

She wipes a tear.

"Anyways, I wasn't suggesting we actually go into the Hedge; that would quite literally get us nowhere, or worse. The idea is just for you to hijack the portal."

Leliel

2015-08-02, 03:52 PM

Rachel actually laughs out loud, the sound of which would likely unsettle most people.

"It's a good thing I found you when I did, then; wander the Thorns with that attitude and there would hardly be anything left you before the day is up."

She wipes a tear.

"Anyways, I wasn't suggesting we actually go into the Hedge; that would quite literally get us nowhere, or worse. The idea is just for you to hijack the portal."

"...We can do that? Huh.

Lead the way."

Sith_Happens

2015-08-02, 06:00 PM

"...We can do that? Huh.

Lead the way."

Rachel briefly begins to oblige before pausing.

"Should we fetch Ladonna first? I don't know if it might cause her distress to return here and find us gone."

Leliel

2015-08-02, 08:20 PM

The Glyphstone

2015-08-02, 11:15 PM

[Rachel (as Valerie)]
[About a year ago]
[Outisde Seth's apartment]

Valerie silently curses herself for making such a stupid mistake, though given their exchange so far it was anyone's guess how much longer she'd have been able to keep up her charade anyways.

She sighs.

"You're quite good yourself, it's been years since the last time anyone saw through my every maneuver as easily as yourself, and I deal regularly with some very formidable people. Though I do have a sneaking suspicion as to what makes you so different...

Anyways, I suppose this makes it time to get down to brass tacks. Whether the two of us are about to come to blows depends entirely on your answer to the following question: What exactly do you plan to do with my data?"

Family Resemblance roll for later, with three extra dots of Occult off of Mimir's Wisdom as will almost certainly be usual for me:

Initial: [roll0]
10-Again: [roll1]

EDIT: Ah, so close to exceptional.

...Actually, it just now occurs to me that given the nature of their interaction so far Rachel would almost certainly want to spend Willpower on that in order to hopefully learn as much about Seth as she can as quickly as possible. Especially given that she almost certainly gained at least one point of Willpower at some point during this conversation anyways (finally settled on "Cunning" Legend and "Curious" Life). Pretty please let me retcon that just this once (in which case here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19616938&postcount=422) are the extra dice)?:smallredface:

(OOC: Sure, go right ahead.)

"Do with it? Why would I do anything with it? The value of a secret is directly proportionate to the number of people who know it, and if it's not a secret at all, it's worthless to me. I'll keep what I've learned to myself, alongside everything else I've learned that someone thinks is theirs and theirs alone. Mine to keep, until the day I die. Does that answer suit you?"

Sith_Happens

2015-08-03, 12:17 AM

Grebet draws a hand over his face.

"We very much should. And as you will become very familiar with, my short-term memory is an abomination spawned from the pits of Hell, and found so utterly loathsome the devil himself exiled it to Earth. Please do not mention this to her."

"My lips are sealed."

Rachel takes off her bracelet and holds it out to Erelim.

"Arel, you're the best here at covering ground, would you be a dear and track down our new ghost friend? After that it's up to you whether you want to come with us or keep an eye on things around here."

"Do with it? Why would I do anything with it? The value of a secret is directly proportionate to the number of people who know it, and if it's not a secret at all, it's worthless to me. I'll keep what I've learned to myself, alongside everything else I've learned that someone thinks is theirs and theirs alone. Mine to keep, until the day I die. Does that answer suit you?"

Valerie smiles to herself and wonders whether the man behind the door is aware how much he just revealed about himself. She knows a Hunger when she hears about one.

"Well, if it's going into a hoard then I suppose I don't have anything to worry about, provided you're anywhere near as good at guarding your treasure trove as you are at adding to it."

The young woman casually runs a hand through her hair.

"Do you mind if Frederick joins us? I'd hate to have brought him here for nothing, so the least you could offer him in lieu of your blood is a cold drink and a place to sit."

As Valerie grins devilishly, Seth can no longer sense the persona she had been maintaining up to this point.

Entelechy

2015-08-10, 12:18 PM

Sith_Happens

2015-08-10, 03:23 PM

The Erelim takes the bracelet from her gingerly, with utmost care.

"Careful. Hate get get you under the influence of me," The Erelim joked. She slipped it onto her wrist and jangled it by her ear a couple times.

"I'll be right back," The Erelim vanishes into the shadows.

[Rachel (as herself)]
[About two weeks ago]
[The docks]

"Well then, let's get moving. Arel can find us once we're there."

Rachel leads Grebert to a different warehouse, seemingly no different from any of the others.

"The entrance to this warehouse is also the portal. Once the other two get here you can open it to your Lair; it's just like creating a Pathway, except generally much easier. You could also open it to the Hedge, but like I said before that's not the best idea without a changeling as a guide."

Leliel

2015-08-10, 09:45 PM

[Rachel (as herself)]
[About two weeks ago]
[The docks]

"Well then, let's get moving. Arel can find us once we're there."

Rachel leads Grebert to a different warehouse, seemingly no different from any of the others.

"The entrance to this warehouse is also the portal. Once the other two get here you can open it to your Lair; it's just like creating a Pathway, except generally much easier. You could also open it to the Hedge, but like I said before that's not the best idea without a changeling as a guide."

"Hmm...Question, is the Hedge unique in this? I possess a gate to Purgatory-the Underworld, most of my flock calls it, but from what little I've explored, it seems like Purgatory to me-in the Lair, so I supposed if I found a different way to the dead caverns, I'd somehow be able to get to my Lair from there. Could it be that I could skip the journey in the caverns? My own anxiety about closed spaces is why I didn't try to explore as much as I probably should have."

Sith_Happens

2015-08-10, 11:58 PM

"Hmm...Question, is the Hedge unique in this? I possess a gate to Purgatory-the Underworld, most of my flock calls it, but from what little I've explored, it seems like Purgatory to me-in the Lair, so I supposed if I found a different way to the dead caverns, I'd somehow be able to get to my Lair from there. Could it be that I could skip the journey in the caverns? My own anxiety about closed spaces is why I didn't try to explore as much as I probably should have."

"You have an Underworld gate... in your Lair... Fascinating...

...Oh, right, yes. Any dimensional portal at all will do."

Leliel

2015-08-11, 07:33 PM

"Hm. That is something new. Makes my job perhaps infinitely more convenient."

There is a brief pause.

"This may violate privacy, but is the Erelim normally the person who demands individuals strip for her? Has she told you anything about how she got that way, or is it just her Soul? If you think she should tell me, you don't have to answer."

Sith_Happens

2015-08-13, 12:52 PM

"This may violate privacy, but is the Erelim normally the person who demands individuals strip for her? Has she told you anything about how she got that way, or is it just her Soul? If you think she should tell me, you don't have to answer."

Rachel chuckles for just a moment.

"Don't worry, if Arel even has a concept of privacy at all then it's certainly not one she has any respect for. Which actually goes a long way towards answering your question. As best as she's been able to explain to me she Hungers for the disruption caused when people step outside some boundary that they or others consider important. I suppose by your parlance you could call her a demon who tempts people into sin, the more witnesses to the sin the better. Personally I reckon that if she could she would have the whole world take up hedonism and anarchy."

She pauses briefly.

"Not that she's trying to make a meal out of you; that would be crass, not to mention she wouldn't be nearly so direct about it. With nonhumans it's more of a trust exercise; it's been years since I brought up the matter to her face and she danced around it back then, but if I had to guess she probably worries that anyone with a normal sense of inhibition or morality wouldn't be able to accept her. An understandable worry to have given her circumstances; she grew up in a fundamentalist household with a mother just psychic enough to know that there was something distinctly inhuman about her. You can probably imagine just how much fun that must have been."

Rachel suddenly runs a hand through her ponytail.

"As for what any of that has to do with her Soul looking like something out of a Lovecraft story, your guess is as good as mine. I suppose we could ask, for all we know Arel already found Ladonna and has been eavesdropping on us the whole time while the latter catches up."

Let me know if I've made any faulty assumptions regarding what Erelim would and wouldn't have said in past conversations. I'll edit accordingly.

Leliel

2015-08-13, 02:43 PM

Sith_Happens

2015-08-14, 05:55 PM

Grebert nods sagely. "I understand perfectly. At least my issues were primarily with self-loathing. Make no mistake, I have a certain pleasure in gnawing on the dreams of the nightmares of examples of the faith gone wrong. Especially when I take fruits of their hypocrisy."

"And what sorts of 'fruit' are we talking here? I'm starting to suspect the two of us might have more in common than meets the eye; there's few things I enjoy myself more than tearing down the high and mighty."

Rachel grins predatorially.

Random friendly reminder: if anything Grebert says isn't the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth you need to indicate as much on account of Mimir's Wisdom. So far I've just been assuming honesty based on the lack of Subterfuge rolls but I suppose it bears mentioning in case I've assumed wrong.

Leliel

2015-08-16, 10:34 PM

"Money and blackmail material, obviously. It's no substitute for knowledge, but it quells the hunger."

If he is lying, it's news to him. He's desperate for a peer.

Sith_Happens

2015-08-17, 11:53 AM

"Money and blackmail material, obviously. It's no substitute for knowledge, but it quells the hunger."

If he is lying, it's news to him. He's desperate for a peer.

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[The docks]
[About two weeks ago]

"This was definitely the right city to move to then, you're the third Begotten I've met here so far that has a common interest with me. Speaking of which—"

Rachel pauses to check her watch.

"—what could possibly be taking that woman so long? She had better not have gotten distracted and hopped halfway across town. Again."

Entelechy

2015-08-17, 12:05 PM

Sith_Happens

2015-08-17, 03:42 PM

The Erelim returns late. Far later than would be expected of one with the speed and far reaching senses of the Erelim. She returns, grinning, surrounded by a gaggle of ghosts.

"Ghosts are fun. I see why you get involved with them now. Here catch," she says, then tosses Rachel back her bracelet. It's tacky now, almost sticky.

If Rachel has any experience with duct tape, she will recognize the tackiness as being left behind from duct tape being pealed off.

I assume you mean that some appreciable amount of time has passed even since Rachel asking what's taking so long.

EDIT: In which case I'll also just assume for convenience and expedience's sake that Rachel and Bruno have finished discussing anything else there is to talk about having just met and Bruno not having shown off his Lair yet. Leliel and I can hash out an overview in the OOC thread of what that might have been.
Rachel absentmindedly looks up from her phone to catch the bracelet. As soon as her fingers are around it, though, her eyes widen, at first in confusion but almost immediately turning to exasperation.

"I'm not sure which is more concerning, that my detector is covered in some kind of adhesive or that it's practically giving me frostbite. Just what the hell have you been doing for an hour?"

Presumably none of the ghosts are actually visible yet.

Entelechy

2015-08-17, 11:36 PM

"Well, I figured that I could try to do a spirally search, but I didn't actually know how the bracelet worked, so I figured I might miss her easily. So instead I started going to places that were supposed to be haunted and poked around until I found a definite ghost. And we got talking. I asked about other local spooks and about Ladonna, and we decided to go poking about for other ghosts, rather than searching the city haphazardly. It's pretty fast when you're me. Next thing I know there is a whole bunch of us, and we are talking revenge type stuff (turns out ghosts are great to chat about revenge with), and it turns out this one gal knew where her killer was. So we all decided to pay him a visit. Loaded him up with some of my skin's hallucinogens, duct taped the bracelet to his arm, and then the ghosts had a field day tormenting him. I mean, I gave him the Bad Trip Express stuff, not the nice stuff. Real easy, real fun. I just had to run interference to keep his wife and kids safe when he got his hands on some knives until he tuckered himself out." The Erelim explained excitedly.

I hope I understand the mechanism of the bracelet and seeing ghosts correctly.

Leliel

2015-08-18, 08:31 AM

Sith_Happens

2015-08-18, 11:10 AM

While I normally have a speech designed for new guests, I am a little strapped for time here: Did you find the motive for Ladonna's killer?"

Rachel facepalms.

"Firstly, Erelim meant the 'gal''s killer, not Ladonna's.—"

That is correct, yes? If not then can we have it be correct, the Ladonna case is supposed to extend into at least the first ST's turn.
"—Secondly... GAH. In one ear and out the other, as always. I told you how the bracelet works five months ago when I bought it, and you were right ****ing here when I told Ladonna to search the docks. As in this immediate area, not the whole damn city. That's a pretty narrow search range if I ever heard one. But hey, congratulations on your midnight snack, it's not like anyone was waiting for you. Which is good, because if anyone was they'd be really. ****ing. Pissed right now."

By the time she finishes her rant Rachel is trying very hard to pull her hair out, though she fails to make the slightest bit of progress.

I'm going to go ahead and say that this whole "Erelim pushes Rachel's buttons until she flies off the handle" routine is a thing that happens every so often (though usually when they're alone), so Erelim knows not to take it too hard (or, alternatively, knows that failing to hide any enjoyment she might derive from it won't actually make things much worse).

Entelechy

2015-08-23, 12:26 AM

Sith_Happens

2015-08-23, 04:36 PM

Erelim vanishes into shadow again, and when she speak again, her voice once more comes from beneath Grebert's clothes.

"What Rachel has never understood is the importance of hunger. Of riding the ragged edge of the cliff, and one topple overwhich you lose yourself to nothing but hunger. That's where I live, you see. Its what makes me so very, very free. But I also must have little snacks throughout the day. Or else I will become real and savage, for real."

"Oh PLEASE, don't even think of giving me that. I starve myself plenty often, the difference is that I spend time around the rest of the Family tree. Maybe if you'd start stalking some vampires like I keep telling you you should you'd be able to draw out your own hunts a little longer. For crying out loud they don't even have to know you're there, it could NOT be easier."

Rachel suddenly stiffens and looks around, then runs a hand through her hair as she composes herself.

"Ahem, sorry for making a scene. Perhaps if the Reverend were to get that gate open we could properly meet your new friends. Oh, and make sure to tell me later where that murderer of yours lives, if he's still alive I'd like to see if I can make anything from your leftovers."

Entelechy

2015-08-23, 09:18 PM

Sith_Happens

2015-08-24, 01:21 AM

"Of course he's alive. He's not at home anymore now, though. The police have him in in the hospital. 'Drug inducted psychosis.' Anyway. If you take responsibility, I'll hunt some vampires. Deal?" The Erelim asks with a Cheshire grin.

Rachel raises an eyebrow.

"Responsibility for your victim just now or responsibility for something you're implying will happen to any vampires you stalk? Because you don't need to do a thing to the vampires, you literally just have to watch them drink blood. And preferably also watch them procure the blood, it's more filling that way."

Entelechy

2015-08-24, 01:45 AM

Sith_Happens

2015-08-24, 02:27 AM

"Look, I know being you is just a hobby to you, but for me, being me is a full time obligation and duty. So I could sit from anywhere in the city and watch every vampire feed, and grow fat, but I would be basically failing myself, and my community. I could feed directly off vampires, but honestly I am not sure what the collateral damage might be, but if you are prepared to accept the fallout with me, then I'd give it a try."

"I'm sorry, are you implying that I'm somehow less me just because I like being able to hear myself think over my Soul's hunger pangs from time to time? I am a SPIDER, Arel; I leave my meals out to hang and squirm, I eat them slowly, and when I do I savor them. If I can keep myself Sated in between with a little voyeurism, that's nothing more than simple practicality."

I'm totally imaging Grebert and a half dozen ghosts just awkwardly standing there watching Erelim and Rachel have it out with each other, and it's hilarious.:smallbiggrin:

Leliel

2015-08-24, 11:15 PM

The priest stands, looking awkward.

Then clears his throat.

"Why vampires? I've met ghosts who've known them and the picture...isn't really flattering."

Entelechy

2015-08-25, 02:02 AM

"I'm sorry, are you implying that I'm somehow less me just because I like being able to hear myself think over my Soul's hunger pangs from time to time? I am a SPIDER, Arel; I leave my meals out to hang and squirm, I eat them slowly, and when I do I savor them. If I can keep myself Sated in between with a little voyeurism, that's nothing more than simple practicality."[/COLOR]

"I didn't imply that, I said that. I'm a better spider than you. Every shadow is a filament in my web. I sit in in the shadows and feel every twitch of everyone who crosses its threads. My senses are everywhere, as the whole city of prey scurries about oblivious to the net they are within. Anywhere in my web of darkness I can appear to strike at my prey, give them my venom, and feast. And this should be you to, cousin. This is your legacy, from our Dark Mother. But you haven't take up this birthright, you've settled for lesser gifts, and are fettered. And this 'sated in between' is just weakness. Commit to one or the other: feasting to stay always sated, or riding the delicious edge of hunger, on fire and alive. The middle ground is gross."

The Erelim turns to answer the preacher's question, "Vampires hunt all the time. You can feed vicariously watching them do it. But it's a sad way to sate a hunger. Junk food. Our Mother gave us appetites for a reason, our Souls hunger for what they hunger for a reason. Muffling that appetite with some meaningless filler, popcorn, snack is just wrong, dull, and a betrayal of your nature."

Rater202

2015-08-25, 08:49 AM

[A few nights ago]

Taylor and Sam are dressed in their best club fashions, heading into a club. The club in question is a hang out and a common place for drunk and horny young people to pick up casual partners-exactly what ti's meant for, as it's owned by a local Deva and plenty of vampires use it as a place to get fresh licks.

And that's why Taylor is here. Sam is heading out for breakfast, and Taylor is joining her.

Inside,they look around.

"I think there's an open table, Tay."
Claim it for us. I think I see one of my cousins...

The vampiress walks and claims a table, while the dragon in human flesh walks to a woman she had seen while looking around. A woman who felt like family and who feels like a spider...

Hello there, cousin.

The woman can sense the dragon's soul in Taylor, can tell that she's giantkin, that she's young, having come home recently, that she is fire incarnate, that she hungers for the power of the predator, and can, for a brief moment, see a twisting maze in a place with extreme heat.

The Glyphstone

2015-08-25, 10:21 PM

"My lips are sealed."

Rachel takes off her bracelet and holds it out to Erelim.

"Arel, you're the best here at covering ground, would you be a dear and track down our new ghost friend? After that it's up to you whether you want to come with us or keep an eye on things around here."

Valerie smiles to herself and wonders whether the man behind the door is aware how much he just revealed about himself. She knows a Hunger when she hears about one.

"Well, if it's going into a hoard then I suppose I don't have anything to worry about, provided you're anywhere near as good at guarding your treasure trove as you are at adding to it."

The young woman casually runs a hand through her hair.

"Do you mind if Frederick joins us? I'd hate to have brought him here for nothing, so the least you could offer him in lieu of your blood is a cold drink and a place to sit."

As Valerie grins devilishly, Seth can no longer sense the persona she had been maintaining up to this point.

"I keep my treasures in the safest place possible- no one can touch them but me. As for your friend - give him some money to go buy a beer at the corner store, and I'll pay you back. You've earned passage into my home; he hasn't, and I'm not for sharing outside the family if I can help it anyways."

Sith_Happens

2015-08-26, 04:15 AM

Go go gadget triple reply!:smallcool:

[Snip]

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[The docks]
[Two weeks ago]

Rachel stares at Ereleim, simultaneously furious and dumbstruck. Though obviously trying to get words out she's spectacularly failing to do so.

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[A club/bar that has yet to be named OOC]
[A few nights ago]

Rachel sits at the bar, sipping her drink and discretely listening to a group of vampires nearby. While risky, it's something she's been doing more and more often lately; the tangled politics of Kindred are a veritable buffet of rumor and conspiracy, after all.

Glancing briefly towards the entrance, she sees a dragon surveying the crowd with an unfamiliar vampire by her side.

Damnit, of all the times...

As Rachel focuses on the newcomers with her Hunger-enhanced senses, a flood of impressions come in from the Beast. Anakim Tyrant. Volcanic Lair of minimum size and potency. Impervious to fire. Sated. And more subtle insights besides. The vampire she doesn't pierce quite as thoroughly, to her dismay.

Most concerning is the fact that the two are obviously there together. Rachel turns an ear their way in the hopes of discerning how fast she might need to act to preserve her cover.

"I think there's an open table, Tay."
Claim it for us. I think I see one of my cousins...

S***. Let's hope the vamp isn't the chatty type, and more importantly that I'm not about to get into my first ever territorial conflict with a Sibling.

As the new Beast approaches her Soul looms over Rachel in much the same way as Blaine's.

Hello there, cousin.

Good, she's friendly. Just have to keep it that way...

Rachel decides to play to the dragon's nature.

"Oh, hey, I haven't seen you in forever. Who's the friend?"

She leans the slightest bit and quickly whispers:

"You have me in a tight spot here, show me some mercy and play along for now?"

"I keep my treasures in the safest place possible- no one can touch them but me. As for your friend - give him some money to go buy a beer at the corner store, and I'll pay you back. You've earned passage into my home; he hasn't, and I'm not for sharing outside the family if I can help it anyways."

[Rachel Hartley (as Valerie Lestrade)]
[Outside Seth Decosta's apartment]
[One year ago]

Valerie glances towards Frederick and shrugs.

"Locus is acting up anyways, I should probably be home sooner rather than later. Another time, perhaps?"

"It'd be my pleasure."

She smiles briefly at the Uratha before he turns to walk away, then focuses back on the door.

"A werewolf, in case you were wondering. Turns out they're pretty easy to make nice with when you can tell a spirit's weaknesses at a glance. Now about this door between us...?"

Leliel

2015-08-26, 07:27 AM

The Erelim turns to answer the preacher's question, "Vampires hunt all the time. You can feed vicariously watching them do it. But it's a sad way to sate a hunger. Junk food. Our Mother gave us appetites for a reason, our Souls hunger for what they hunger for a reason. Muffling that appetite with some meaningless filler, popcorn, snack is just wrong, dull, and a betrayal of your nature."

"...Hm. So why keep following them around?"

"From what my flock has told me about them, they become incredibly cruel-natured to survive or as part of their transformation, I'm not sure. Cruel and manipulative. On a purely practical level, if you're following one around, it knows, and it's likely looking for a way to attain leverage over you. Even discounting the morality of it, that doesn't seem safe from a purely pragmatic standpoint."

A thought. "While we are on the subject of the dead and unquiet, have you ever heard rumors of a "fog man" or "sin-eater"? I am given to understand both of those terms refers to the same kind of entity."

Rater202

2015-08-26, 03:45 PM

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[A club/bar that has yet to be named OOC]
[A few nights ago]

Rachel sits at the bar, sipping her drink and discretely listening to a group of vampires nearby. While risky, it's something she's been doing more and more often lately; the tangled politics of Kindred are a veritable buffet of rumor and conspiracy, after all.

Glancing briefly towards the entrance, she sees a dragon surveying the crowd with an unfamiliar vampire by her side.

Damnit, of all the times...

As Rachel focuses on the newcomers with her Hunger-enhanced senses, a flood of impressions come in from the Beast. Anakim Tyrant. Volcanic Lair of minimum size and potency. Impervious to fire. Sated. And more subtle insights besides. The vampire she doesn't pierce quite as thoroughly, to her dismay.

Most concerning is the fact that the two are obviously there together. Rachel turns an ear their way in the hopes of discerning how fast she might need to act to preserve her cover.

S***. Let's hope the vamp isn't the chatty type, and more importantly that I'm not about to get into my first ever territorial conflict with a Sibling.

As the new Beast approaches her Soul looms over Rachel in much the same way as Blaine's.

Good, she's friendly. Just have to keep it that way...

Rachel decides to play to the dragon's nature.

"Oh, hey, I haven't seen you in forever. Who's the friend?"

She leans the slightest bit and quickly whispers:

"You have me in a tight spot here, show me some mercy and play along for now?"
Oh, she's just my roomate. She's a good friend and knows where all the best places to get a bite to eat are. So cuz, how long have you been in town?

Sith_Happens

2015-08-26, 05:22 PM

A thought. "While we are on the subject of the dead and unquiet, have you ever heard rumors of a "fog man" or "sin-eater"? I am given to understand both of those terms refers to the same kind of entity."

Rachel snaps out of her confusion and takes a quick, deep breath.

"Can't say that rings a bell, I'm afraid. On the subject of vampires, I much prefer the company of changelings myself, for all of those reasons. I figure the Kindred would be a better fit for Arel though considering it's easier to tell when they're feeding and she's at no risk of getting caught."

"Anyways, now that I think the two of us are done showing off our... peculiar relationship, shall we?"

She gestures toward the gate.

Oh, she's just my roomate. She's a good friend and knows where all the best places to get a bite to eat are. So cuz, how long have you been in town?

"A few years now, you didn't know? Obviously you've just moved here, on the other hand, or I'd have found you by now."

Rachel hears the vampires behind her begin standing up, their conversation finished for now. Done stalling mercifully soon, she demurely turns toward the table where Sam is sitting.

"I think your roommate might already be looking at the menu. Shall we move? I would hate to be the one to keep you from her."

Rater202

2015-08-26, 08:52 PM

"A few years now, you didn't know? Obviously you've just moved here, on the other hand, or I'd have found you by now."

Rachel hears the vampires behind her begin standing up, their conversation finished for now. Done stalling mercifully soon, she demurely turns toward the table where Sam is sitting.

"I think your roommate might already be looking at the menu. Shall we move? I would hate to be the one to keep you from her."

Yeah, come over with me. It's been quite a bit since I've seen a cousin, and my room mate loves meeting members of my extended family.

The Glyphstone

2015-08-26, 10:50 PM

[Rachel Hartley (as Valerie Lestrade)]
[Outside Seth Decosta's apartment]
[One year ago]

Valerie glances towards Frederick and shrugs.

"Locus is acting up anyways, I should probably be home sooner rather than later. Another time, perhaps?"

"It'd be my pleasure."

She smiles briefly at the Uratha before he turns to walk away, then focuses back on the door.

"A werewolf, in case you were wondering. Turns out they're pretty easy to make nice with when you can tell a spirit's weaknesses at a glance. Now about this door between us...?"

As a response, the lock on the door clicks, and swings open. Seth is standing on the other side - his pistol is in his hand, but pointed off to one side, and even as the door opens he is smoothly holstering the weapon. Valerie can see him - unassuming and bland, in a T-shirt and jeans - and she can see, faintly, his Soul outlined around him, the crouching androsphinx with furred muscles rippling and feathered wings flaring wide.

"Indeed. Be welcome over my threshold and in my home, cousin."

The living room is small, but cozy, adorned with the typical trappings and general clutter of a bachelor's apartment. He moves to clear the cleanest and most comfortable-looking armchair of a stack of books, then settles himself onto the couch opposite and waves at the now-empty chair.

Sith_Happens

2015-08-27, 10:37 PM

Yeah, come over with me. It's been quite a bit since I've seen a cousin, and my room mate loves meeting members of my extended family.

"After you."

As Rachel follows her newest possible confidant she "accidentally" stumbles and catches herself on the nearest vampire.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I guess I've had a little too much."

Making sure to avoid eye contact, she brushes past each of his friends and several other people before reaching Taylor and Sam at the table and quickly glancing around.

"Good choice of spot, we shouldn't have to worry too much about being overheard here."

Rachel casually sits in the closest spot to Sam, before turning attention to Taylor.

"'Tay,' was it? Is that short for something?"

Yay adding unnecessary yet character-illuminating details!:smallbiggrin::smalltongue:

As a response, the lock on the door clicks, and swings open. Seth is standing on the other side - his pistol is in his hand, but pointed off to one side, and even as the door opens he is smoothly holstering the weapon. Valerie can see him - unassuming and bland, in a T-shirt and jeans - and she can see, faintly, his Soul outlined around him, the crouching androsphinx with furred muscles rippling and feathered wings flaring wide.

"Indeed. Be welcome over my threshold and in my home, cousin."

As the doors opens Valerie briefly peers deep into Seth's Soul, seeing a scorching pyramid in the midst of a vast desert and knowing that the man before her cannot be lied to. As he holsters his gun she smirks at it.

"I hope you weren't expecting that to do anything besides maybe ruin my jacket."

The living room is small, but cozy, adorned with the typical trappings and general clutter of a bachelor's apartment. He moves to clear the cleanest and most comfortable-looking armchair of a stack of books, then settles himself onto the couch opposite and waves at the now-empty chair.

Valerie surveys the apartment on her way to the chair and falls back into it like she owns it. As she begins to speak her Soul's four eyes focus on Seth intently.

Eye of Heaven of course. Not sure if that pings, she's not trying to hide the fact that she's doing it so much as it's become so habitual for her to scan everyone she meets that she doesn't even think to mention it.
"I hope you weren't planning on being enigmatic today, because Mother just told me quite a lot about you already. Your ear for deception, for instance. Speaking of which, I hope you're happy with yourself because my own Soul was just laughing at me for not figuring that out sooner. Do you have any idea how awkward that feels?"

She suddenly leans forward.

"Of course what I really want to know is, does that ability come with certain others for you too? An uncanny memory? A terrible sharpness of mind when you're Hungry? All the world's knowledge at your disposal if only you empty your belly a little to make room for it?"

Leliel

2015-08-27, 11:04 PM

Rachel snaps out of her confusion and takes a quick, deep breath.

"Can't say that rings a bell, I'm afraid. On the subject of vampires, I much prefer the company of changelings myself, for all of those reasons. I figure the Kindred would be a better fit for Arel though considering it's easier to tell when they're feeding and she's at no risk of getting caught."

"Anyways, now that I think the two of us are done showing off our... peculiar relationship, shall we?"

She gestures toward the gate.

The Vicar looks over the gate. It looks pretty normal, completely mundane...

To human eyes. To his Soul's eyes, it is a nexus of flickering pathways, between hundreds of distinct locations. It returns to a green, thorny woodland most often, but the image is clear to him:

All doorways are one doorway.

As he reaches out to the gate, a tiny bit of his Soul flies into it, and the Gate stabilizes on a very familiar field of white flowers.

To human eyes as well.

Spending a Willpower to access the Lair.

5/6 remaining.

Sith_Happens

2015-08-28, 12:28 AM

The Vicar looks over the gate. It looks pretty normal, completely mundane...

To human eyes. To his Soul's eyes, it is a nexus of flickering pathways, between hundreds of distinct locations. It returns to a green, thorny woodland most often, but the image is clear to him:

All doorways are one doorway.

As he reaches out to the gate, a tiny bit of his Soul flies into it, and the Gate stabilizes on a very familiar field of white flowers.

To human eyes as well.

Spending a Willpower to access the Lair.

5/6 remaining.

Rolling Skeleton Key for you since you forgot to:

Bruno (Resolve + Occult + Lair):

Initial: [roll0]
10-Again: [roll1]

Unnamed Changeling (Wyrd):

Initial: [roll2]
10-Again: [roll3]

The gate stays open for a turn per success of Bruno's assuming the changeling doesn't somehow 10-again to victory.
Rachel runs through the gate the moment it's open.

"Quickly now, you all have ten seconds to get through if you're lucky. Oh, did I forget to mention that part before? Silly me."

Rater202

2015-08-28, 01:41 AM

Taylor.This is Sam.

And you, cousin?

Sith_Happens

2015-08-28, 03:57 AM

Taylor.This is Sam.

And you, cousin?

"Hm... Well tonight I'm going by 'Elizabeth,' or 'Liz' for short, so it's probably best you call me that for now. After tonight... I'll tell you later. Can't be too careful."

Rachel makes a quick sweep for potential eavesdroppers.

"And what's with this 'cousin' business anyways? Nearly all the Begotten in this city seem to call each other that and it perplexes me to no end. If we're all born of the Dark Mother then doesn't that make us siblings? It definitely feels more sibling-ish of a relationship to me at least."

She points a finger towards Sam.

"If anything she's the cousin here."

Leliel

2015-08-28, 07:24 AM

Rolling Skeleton Key for you since you forgot to:

Bruno (Resolve + Occult + Lair):

Initial: [roll0]
10-Again: [roll1]

Unnamed Changeling (Wyrd):

Initial: [roll2]
10-Again: [roll3]

The gate stays open for a turn per success of Bruno's assuming the changeling doesn't somehow 10-again to victory.
Rachel runs through the gate the moment it's open.

"Quickly now, you all have ten seconds to get through if you're lucky. Oh, did I forget to mention that part before? Silly me."

He doesn't wait either.

"Again, new to this," he says once he's one the other side.

Rater202

2015-08-28, 12:01 PM

"Hm... Well tonight I'm going by 'Elizabeth,' or 'Liz' for short, so it's probably best you call me that for now. After tonight... I'll tell you later. Can't be too careful."

Rachel makes a quick sweep for potential eavesdroppers.

"And what's with this 'cousin' business anyways? Nearly all the Begotten in this city seem to call each other that and it perplexes me to no end. If we're all born of the Dark Mother then doesn't that make us siblings? It definitely feels more sibling-ish of a relationship to me at least."

She points a finger towards Sam.

"If anything she's the cousin here."

A black man calling a white girl 20 years younger than him his "sister" is gonna draw a bit too much attention. They could plausibly be cousins, however, if only through marriage.

"So... You're a dragon, too?"

Sam, we've been over this, they're not all dragons. I'm not even sure what Etta was.

Sith_Happens

2015-08-28, 01:51 PM

A black man calling a white girl 20 years younger than him his "sister" is gonna draw a bit too much attention. They could plausibly be cousins, however, if only through marriage.

"So... You're a dragon, too?"

Sam, we've been over this, they're not all dragons. I'm not even sure what Etta was.

Rachel starts to look the slightest bit excited and begins to talk faster than before.

"Etta? Who's that? And the black man for that matter, or was that hypothetical? I love meeting new Beasts but they're surprisingly hard to find sometimes, even knowing in the back of my mind that they're here in the city somewhere. Should we trade notes? Assuming Sam here isn't going to run off and tell all her Kindred friends, of course; let's just say I have reasons to keep my cards close to my chest around the pulse-impaired."

Rater202

2015-08-28, 03:57 PM

Sith_Happens

2015-08-29, 05:38 AM

Etta's a gorgon who works at the taco bell. The black man was a hypothetical, and, um... Sam, you haven't told anybody about us, have you?

"Well, I mentioned that I was friends withone of the Crone's closer children, but there's a bunch of you here so it's not a big deal... If you could come over and sit in on a meeting though, as my guest, it'll really up my street cred."

Sure, anything for an old friend.

[Rachel (in disguise)]
[A nightclub, with Taylor]
[A few nights ago]

First off, Wits + Empathy to discern the nature of Taylor and Sam's relationship; with vampires it isn't always what it looks like on the surface.

Initial: [roll0]
10-Again: [roll1]
"The Crone? I take it you're an Acolyte then?"

Rachel pauses for a moment as if to think.

Let's go ahead and take this Advanced Eidetic Memory merit for a spin; not sure if Occult is the right skill to know about the Circle itself, but it's definitely the one to know about their beliefs and practices.

Intelligence (2) + Occult (temp. 5) + 2 = 9

Initial: [roll2]
10-Again: [roll3]

EDIT: You're ****ing kidding me. -_-

EDIT 2: I mean, there's still a success in there so she at least knows the basics, but was two more for Informed (Crone Lore) really too much to ask for?
"I suppose there are worse Kindred to tip my hand to; at the very least you won't hear me disputing many of the Circle's ideas.

Anyways, the short of it is I'm in the secrets business and have been picking up a fair amount of vampiric clientele as of late. I'm not sure how well known I am yet, but if you've heard of anyone going to 'the Spider' for information then that's me. You can probably guess how I chose the name."

Rachel grins slightly.

I guess this is maybe the place to mention that Rachel doesn't have her natural hair or eye color right now.
"I trust you can be discrete about my presence here? From my experience your kind are a rather... sensitive lot and probably wouldn't take kindly to knowing that one of the ways I know the things I know is by spying on them on their own feeding grounds."

Rater202

2015-08-29, 01:03 PM

Sith_Happens

2015-08-29, 02:29 PM

As far as Rachel can tell, they're exactly as they claim to be.

"Kinda, sorta in the Circle. Don't really believe in it, but you have to be in a strong group to survive here, and Crone is less stuffy than the lance"

She starts eyeing a mortal that just came in.

"And yeah, I get it, don't tell anybody about anything."

"That's actually rather a shame. Obviously I'm a bit biased, but I suspect the Acolytes have the right of things where the vampiric condition is concerned, at least for the most part. Don't tell anyone I said that though, I'm trying to stay neutral in Kindred politics for the time being."

Rachel's eyes briefly follow Sam's.

"I see you're ready to order?"

Can I play the mortal?

Rater202

2015-08-29, 03:39 PM

"Still eyeing the menu"

That was just fluff.

Maybe in a bit.

Entelechy

2015-08-29, 04:36 PM

He doesn't wait either.

"Again, new to this," he says once he's one the other side.

The Erelim follows in their shadows, as fleet as they.

Sith_Happens

2015-08-30, 02:12 AM

"Still eyeing the menu"

"Exacting tastes or just not in a hurry?"

That was just fluff.

Maybe in a bit.

As in she's been eyeing other people already and you just didn't mention it?

Rater202

2015-08-30, 01:04 PM

"I like to take my time. It's a hunt, not a trip to the grocery store."

Sam's just picky.

"So are you, miss Ultimate Predator."

Basically. This is just the first time she checked someone out while the PCs were present.

Sith_Happens

2015-08-30, 01:49 PM

"So are you, miss Ultimate Predator."

Rachel turns to Taylor and raises an eyebrow.

"'Ultimate predator?' You strike me more as the 'Behold my power' type."

Rater202

2015-08-30, 04:18 PM

The four biggest predators of early humans were big cats, snakes, raptors, and crocodiles.

What do you get when you mix all of those things together? That power is mine.

Sith_Happens

2015-08-31, 12:02 AM

The four biggest predators of early humans were big cats, snakes, raptors, and crocodiles.

What do you get when you mix all of those things together? That power is mine.

[Rachel Hartley (disguised)]
[Da club]
[A few nights ago]

"Fascinating. If you don't mind my asking, how exactly does that express itself? You know, in terms of... urges?"

Rater202

2015-08-31, 02:38 PM

[Rachel Hartley (disguised)]
[Da club]
[A few nights ago]

"Fascinating. If you don't mind my asking, how exactly does that express itself? You know, in terms of... urges?"

Acknowledgement of that power, that title. Or for my prey to know that it has no chance to escape unless I let it?

Sith_Happens

2015-08-31, 04:29 PM

Acknowledgement of that power, that title. Or for my prey to know that it has no chance to escape unless I let it?

Rachel leans forward and rests her chin in her hand.

"Interesting. Very interesting. It seems the more Beasts I meet the more I learn about the Hunger our Dark Mother graced us with; yours is by far one of the more straightforward I've encountered so far yet still features quite the idiosyncrasy. Do you usually prepare your own meals, so to speak, or just mooch off your roommate here? Not that there's anything wrong with that, I have a similar arrangement myself, only with the Lost. Helps me keep my eye on the long-term."

Leliel

2015-08-31, 04:51 PM

He doesn't wait either.

"Again, new to this," he says once he's one the other side.

After Erelim slips in, several dozen people appear on the other side, standing amidst the flowers in Grecean robes.

It seems ghosts become easily physical here.

"Despite the good Rev's complete lack of common sense, I can't fault him for his gardening," Ladonna says, breathing in the asphodel. "Reminds me of these live roses my granddaughter always got me. Never could get them to live for more than a couple months."

Rater202

2015-08-31, 07:43 PM

Rachel leans forward and rests her chin in her hand.

"Interesting. Very interesting. It seems the more Beasts I meet the more I learn about the Hunger our Dark Mother graced us with; yours is by far one of the more straightforward I've encountered so far yet still features quite the idiosyncrasy. Do you usually prepare your own meals, so to speak, or just mooch off your roommate here? Not that there's anything wrong with that, I have a similar arrangement myself, only with the Lost. Helps me keep my eye on the long-term."

Prey that'll satisfy my more... refined tastes are hard to come across in the city, at least for a newcomer. An occasional meal out with a friend is good for keeping starvation away.

Sith_Happens

2015-09-01, 03:11 PM

[Two weeks ago]
[Bruno Grebert's Lair]

After Erelim slips in, several dozen people appear on the other side, standing amidst the flowers in Grecean robes.

It seems ghosts become easily physical here.

"Despite the good Rev's complete lack of common sense, I can't fault him for his gardening," Ladonna says, breathing in the asphodel. "Reminds me of these live roses my granddaughter always got me. Never could get them to live for more than a couple months."

I assume we're in the graveyard as opposed to the church.
Rachel walks around mystified, feeling the eerie breeze and staring equally at the graveyard itself and its ghostly inhabitants.

"Amazing. Is there no Twilight here? If not I wonder if that's true of the Primordial Dream in general. It would make sense..."

She soon turns her attention more fully towards the Reverend's congregants, who can suddenly see her Soul peering at them.

Eye of Heaven + Family Resemblance, the former of course being the reason her Soul's suddenly showing.
After two minutes or so she turns back towards Grebert with a look of slight irritation on her face.

"The one thing about ghosts is they're just so hard to get a bead on. Too human, you know what I mean?"

[A few nights ago]
[Da club]

Prey that'll satisfy my more... refined tastes are hard to come across in the city, at least for a newcomer. An occasional meal out with a friend is good for keeping starvation away.

"I know exactly what you mean, first few months after I moved here it was all I could do to stay above empty. If I hadn't happened upon the city's freehold when I did I don't know what would have happened to me."

Rachel pauses for just a moment.

"You know what? You're obviously already doing quite a bit better for yourself than I was, but it can't hurt to pass along the favor anyways and help find you a meal ticket."

She lowers her voice.

"Just to be clear, you're a fighter, did I surmise that right? Do you have a weapon of choice, and how much do you mind being around human organized crime?"

Leliel

2015-09-01, 05:06 PM

[Two weeks ago]
[Bruno Grebert's Lair]

I assume we're in the graveyard as opposed to the church.
Rachel walks around mystified, feeling the eerie breeze and staring equally at the graveyard itself and its ghostly inhabitants.

"Amazing. Is there no Twilight here? If not I wonder if that's true of the Primordial Dream in general. It would make sense..."

She soon turns her attention more fully towards the Reverend's congregants, who can suddenly see her Soul peering at them.

Eye of Heaven + Family Resemblance, the former of course being the reason her Soul's suddenly showing.
After two minutes or so she turns back towards Grebert with a look of slight irritation on her face.

"The one thing about ghosts is they're just so hard to get a bead on. Too human, you know what I mean?"

Yep. Graveyard.

"Actually, yes it does. It just happens to be as much more...helpful, here. The dead are calmed here, more alive. More human."

Speaking of:

"I would say it is-no offense meant-because they aren't actually alive anymore, or even that undead. Not nearly as dynamic, which means that we wet and raw children of the Dark Mother have a difficult time understanding them. We are from different continents, so to speak; distant cousins from different parts of the planet."

Ladonna suddenly stiffens (no pun intended) and backs slightly off, looking at Rachel strangely.

Sith_Happens

2015-09-01, 09:10 PM

"I would say it is-no offense meant-because they aren't actually alive anymore, or even that undead. Not nearly as dynamic, which means that we wet and raw children of the Dark Mother have a difficult time understanding them. We are from different continents, so to speak; distant cousins from different parts of the planet."

"I suppose that makes sense, though personally I'd also guess that rising as a ghost is less of a change from one's mortal state than something like a vampire's Embrace."

Ladonna suddenly stiffens (no pun intended) and backs slightly off, looking at Rachel strangely.

It actually just occurred to me that Image is technically "a Manifestation other than Materialize" so I shouldn't have subtracted Ladonna's (guesstimated) Integrity, just her Resistance (I assume that's what she used earlier, the way you described it at least it sounded like Image, plus Materialize requires Open), which means I probably should have succeeded. Oh well, I'll just roll with it rather than making you correct your post.
"Whoops, looks like I set off Ladonna. Did that to a mage once. That was not a fun week."

Rachel steps slightly closer to Ladonna and puts on her friendliest smile.

"Don't worry, all I was doing was checking you out. Not like that, of course. As in, rank, essence reserve, that sort of thing. My kind can sniff all that out, it's second-nature to us; the Reverend probably did the same when you first met."

Manipulation + Persuasion - Resistance to smooth things over, assuming Resistance 3 based on Ladonna's Retainer rank:

Initial: [roll0]
9-Again: [roll1]

Leliel

2015-09-01, 09:12 PM

"I suppose that makes sense, though personally I'd also guess that rising as a ghost is less of a change from one's mortal state than something like a vampire's Embrace."

It actually just occurred to me that Image is technically "a Manifestation other than Materialize" so I shouldn't have subtracted Ladonna's (guesstimated) Integrity, just her Resistance (I assume that's what she used earlier, the way you described it at least it sounded like Image, plus Materialize requires Open), which means I probably should have succeeded. Oh well, I'll just roll with it rather than making you correct your post.
"Whoops, looks like I set off Ladonna. Did that to a mage once. That was not a fun week."

Rachel steps slightly closer to Ladonna and puts on her friendliest smile.

"Don't worry, all I was doing was checking you out. Not like that, of course. As in, rank, essence reserve, that sort of thing. My kind can sniff all that out, it's second-nature to us; the Reverend probably did the same when you first met."

Manipulation + Persuasion - Resistance to smooth things over, assuming Resistance 3 based on Ladonna's Retainer rank:

Initial: [roll0]
9-Again: [roll1]

"Oh, good. Don't do it again."

In spite of her warning, Ladonna visibly calms down a little.

Sith_Happens

2015-09-01, 09:41 PM

"Oh, good. Don't do it again."

In spite of her warning, Ladonna visibly calms down a little.

"Anyways, how long have you been filling this place up? I certainly know now why I've encountered so few ghosts over the past few years; you beat me to all of them.

...Your Soul cuts quite the striking figure, by the way."

The Glyphstone

2015-09-03, 12:32 AM

[

As the doors opens Valerie briefly peers deep into Seth's Soul, seeing a scorching pyramid in the midst of a vast desert and knowing that the man before her cannot be lied to. As he holsters his gun she smirks at it.

"I hope you weren't expecting that to do anything besides maybe ruin my jacket."

"Just a precaution, you understand. Living around this neighborhood, you'd be surprised how many fights you can avoid with a little lead in your pocket. I still don't yet know who you are, after all, aside from Family."

"I hope you weren't planning on being enigmatic today, because Mother just told me quite a lot about you already. Your ear for deception, for instance. Speaking of which, I hope you're happy with yourself because my own Soul was just laughing at me for not figuring that out sooner. Do you have any idea how awkward that feels?"

And she's told me a fair bit about you in return, so I think we're even there. And yes, I am a bit pleased, but it was necessary in a way - my Soul likes its riddles and puzzles, but it also has a touch of the guardian in it. Letting a near-stranger into my home upsets it, cousin or otherwise; playing around a bit first helps sooth it down.

"Of course what I really want to know is, does that ability come with certain others for you too? An uncanny memory? A terrible sharpness of mind when you're Hungry? All the world's knowledge at your disposal if only you empty your belly a little to make room for it?"

"You're rather perceptive in your own right, I see - sounds like the two of us have more in common than simply Her blood in our veins, so to speak. I'm not much of a fighter, not compared to some of our relatives, but I think you understand perfectly when I say that knowledge is real power."

Sith_Happens

2015-09-03, 02:39 AM

[Rachel Hartley (as Valerie Lestrade)]
[Seth Decosta's apartment]
[One year ago]

"You're rather perceptive in your own right, I see - sounds like the two of us have more in common than simply Her blood in our veins, so to speak. I'm not much of a fighter, not compared to some of our relatives, but I think you understand perfectly when I say that knowledge is real power."

"I do, I very much do. The difference, of course, is that I Hunger to use that power rather than to sit on it. To each their own, though, I can hardly fault you for following your base instincts when my own habits result from just that.

As for my identity, I am Valerie Lestrade, peddler of secrets and, as you may count yourself the first person to have ever discovered on their own, one of Midway City's up-and-coming mudslingers."

Seth can sense that this isn't a complete answer.
"Now, if your senses really are as sharp as mine then you've known since 'I am Valerie Lestrade' that that isn't the whole story. Before I tell you the rest, however, it's your turn."

Rater202

2015-09-05, 07:00 PM

"You know what? You're obviously already doing quite a bit better for yourself than I was, but it can't hurt to pass along the favor anyways and help find you a meal ticket."

She lowers her voice.

"Just to be clear, you're a fighter, did I surmise that right? Do you have a weapon of choice, and how much do you mind being around human organized crime?"

...Around how?

Leliel

2015-09-05, 07:29 PM

"Anyways, how long have you been filling this place up? I certainly know now why I've encountered so few ghosts over the past few years; you beat me to all of them.

...Your Soul cuts quite the striking figure, by the way."

"Thank you. And I would say, oh...five-year anniversary coming up? I haven't been at it for that long-only met another brother a few months after my awakening, while he was on a sabbatical. Taught me the basics, though not much more."

"And most of these ghosts are refugees from Limbo-sorry, the Underworld. I seem to have a lot of things that naturally form anchors."

Sith_Happens

2015-09-05, 07:48 PM

...Around how?

"That depends. Naturally my first thought was a combat sport of some sort; while I'm sure there are some local leagues you could join, most of the real action is going to be more... underground. Alternatively—"

Rachel quickly glances around the room again.

"—If you're fine getting your hands a little dirtier, I hear that good muscle is hard to come by these days. That's the word on the street at least, but I could easily look into it for you."

She sits up and smiles.

"No pressure though, it's okay if you don't know right now. Like I said, those are just the first things I thought of; I'm sure there are all kinds of opportunities out there for someone like yourself. I'll keep looking if you'd like, or we can just forget I ever brought up the subject. Whatever you want."

Now that I think about it this isn't really the best topic to delve too deep into in the prelude before we can really involve much of the setting in things.:smallredface:

"Thank you. And I would say, oh...five-year anniversary coming up? I haven't been at it for that long-only met another brother a few months after my awakening, while he was on a sabbatical. Taught me the basics, though not much more."

"And most of these ghosts are refugees from Limbo-sorry, the Underworld. I seem to have a lot of things that naturally form anchors."

"And this gate you mentioned before... Where would that be?"

Rater202

2015-09-07, 02:31 PM

I'll have to think about it.

Sith_Happens

2015-09-08, 06:49 PM

I'll have to think about it.

Rachel frowns at the second terse response she's just received and wonders whether she said too much.

"Is something the matter?"

Has Taylor's mood actually visibly changed at all? If you want me to Wits + Empathy for that:

Roll: [roll0]
10's: [roll1]

Rater202

2015-09-08, 07:37 PM

Nothing's wrongNothing has changed.

Sith_Happens

2015-09-09, 06:31 PM

Nothing's wrongNothing has changed.

"Oh, that's good. It seemed like the cat got your tongue all of a sudden so I wasn't sure. So what brings you to Midway anyways?"

Is Sam still checking out the same guy as before or has she moved on?

Rater202

2015-09-09, 07:57 PM

Graduated college,wanted to strike out on my own, so to speak. Seemed like as good a place as any.she's been checking out various people, male and female, for more or less the entire conversation.

Sith_Happens

2015-09-09, 09:32 PM

Graduated college,wanted to strike out on my own, so to speak. Seemed like as good a place as any.

"Oh, it definitely is. I personally came here for college, liked it so much I never left. Anything in particular you've been doing with yourself?"

Rater202

2015-09-09, 10:19 PM

Just got to town not that long ago, so I'm just still settling in. Money isn't an issue, so I've got time. Usually, I'm just jogging or heading to the gym to stay in shape.

Sam came here for college. How'd that work out?

"Well, one "love bite" from some jackass I was dating, and well, you can probably guess the rest."

Sith_Happens

2015-09-09, 11:15 PM

Sam came here for college. How'd that work out?

"Well, one "love bite" from some jackass I was dating, and well, you can probably guess the rest."

Rachel's eyes light up and a wicked grin slowly crosses her face. Taylor can see her Soul lick its lips.

"Trouble with an ex? You're in luck. What can you tell me about him and how miserable do you want him to be? Actually, hang on to that answer, we are in public even if I'm pretty sure no one's listening."

+1 plot hooks.:smallcool:

Rater202

2015-09-11, 12:13 PM

"Yeah,um, not the place. Forone, bad mouthing your "daddy" is considered bad form here... even if I haven't seen him since he cut me lose."

Sith_Happens

2015-09-12, 05:39 PM

[Rachel Hartley (in disguise)]
[A few nights ago]
[The Club To Be Named]

"If it makes you feel better, it could always be worse. You could be a changeling, for instance; they have to get tortured for years in some crazy non-Astral dream realm to become what they are, and they don't even get immortality out of it. If you ever meet one though don't tell them I said that. They tend to be... sensitive.

...Come to think of it, I actually have no idea what mine and Taylor here's outlook is lifespan-wise. The oldest Beast I've met so far is in his thirties and I'm only up on my supernatural history sporadically."

Rater202

2015-09-15, 09:00 AM

If we get strong enough, we'll have anywhere from a few decades to a century longer than the normal mortals live. Unless we discover our inheritance,then we're ageless.

Sith_Happens

2015-09-15, 01:02 PM

If we get strong enough, we'll have anywhere from a few decades to a century longer than the normal mortals live. Unless we discover our inheritance,then we're ageless.

"We have an inheritance? This is the first I've heard about it. Actually, give me a second..."

Rachel plumbs the depths of her memory, knowing that thanks to certain of her abilities it's not necessarily limited by her own experiences, but comes up dry.

"...Nope, I got nothing. Weird, that doesn't usually happen."

Rater202

2015-09-15, 03:31 PM

Sith_Happens

2015-09-15, 10:42 PM

A transformation, if you will. There are three, but the only I know of is one called the Incarnate-where we achive true power and reconcile our human half with the power of our Souls and thus can become our true selves in flesh, not just in dream, whenever we damn well please.

To acive this stat is my goal

"Well DAMN, that is definitely something I have to look into. Any idea how to go about accomplishing that?"

The revision added an alternate method* of achieving Apex that I don't know if we want to put on the table for this chronicle (though we probably have quite a while to decide): by doing something obviously supernatural in front of as many mortal witnesses as possible in as spectacular fashion as possible (you still also have to have Lair 8+). Basically you're cementing your legend by actually becoming legendary.

* Technically two alternate methods, but the other is tied to the Hive mechanics they added for Lairs and so is definitely a no-go.

Rater202

2015-09-16, 03:06 PM

No clue! Still researching that part.

Sith_Happens

2015-09-16, 05:39 PM

No clue! Still researching that part.

Rachel addresses Sam again.

"What about you? You at least put on airs of worshipping someone who sounds an awful lot like the Dark Mother. Any ideas? Or at least know someone who might know?"

Leliel

2015-09-18, 08:48 PM

"And this gate you mentioned before... Where would that be?"

"Next to my Heart. Apparently, I am so attuned to the dead, I-let me show you."

(A little bit of walking later)

Next to a rather comfortable looking altar, there lies a pit. A sculpted, marble, and ornate pit. Nothing much else to it, just a bunch of rough-worked stairs leading down, ringed by slate symbols that look vaguely like Greek lettering...and seemingly random items.

"Behold," begins Grebert, in a somewhat wry tone of voice. "The Hellmouth."

Sith_Happens

2015-09-18, 10:37 PM

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]

[Two months ago]

Next to a rather comfortable looking altar, there lies a pit. A sculpted, marble, and ornate pit. Nothing much else to it, just a bunch of rough-worked stairs leading down, ringed by slate symbols that look vaguely like Greek lettering...and seemingly random items.

[B]"Behold," begins Grebert, in a somewhat wry tone of voice. "The Hellmouth."

Rachel smirks.

"I understood that reference."

She peers down into the pit.

"This is the gate then? Is it open already or does someone have to do that? Not that I'm suggesting we go right now, just curious."

Rater202

2015-09-19, 02:42 PM

Leliel

2015-09-19, 03:23 PM

[Rachel Hartley (as herself)]
[Bruno Grebert's Lair]
[Two months ago]

Rachel smirks.

"I understood that reference."

She peers down into the pit.

"This is the gate then? Is it open already or does someone have to do that? Not that I'm suggesting we go right now, just curious."

"As far as I can tell it's always open. So far, though, the only ghosts interested in staying up here are the ones who think I can help them-thankfully, my Lair helps them be sane."

He points over at a somewhat decayed looking man. "Mr. Toomey over there used to be a Howling Dead, but as soon as his pack followed their nose to my domain, they suddenly lost swarm cohesion and either wandered off back to the Underworld or decided to stay here, where insanity doesn't drive them to intelligent zombism. That's how I learned about fog men, actually-from what he tells me they were trying to recover their Essence after one gave them the slip through sheer endurance."

Sith_Happens

2015-09-20, 01:42 AM

[A Few days ago, a night club]
"The High Priestess might know better, but the general consensus among my crowd is that you guys come from the Crone, but you're a different litter, and that you're a bit more closely related. Some of the other crowds think differently though, but nobody wants to screw with the guys that breath fire."

"So she does breath fire. I suspected as much but wasn't sure. You ever tried to leverage that?"

[Snip]

"Well you've definitely got it made; pretty easy to collect ghosts when they come to you. Speaking of which, one last question..."

Rachel pivots toward Grebert, suddenly trying to look as innocent as possible.

"Hypothetically speaking, how would you feel about someone besides yourself regularly coming here and speaking with your ghosts?"

Leliel

2015-09-20, 08:51 PM

"Well you've definitely got it made; pretty easy to collect ghosts when they come to you. Speaking of which, one last question..."

Rachel pivots toward Grebert, suddenly trying to look as innocent as possible.

"Hypothetically speaking, how would you feel about someone besides yourself regularly coming here and speaking with your ghosts?"

He points at the ghosts.

"I'm not the one you should be asking about that."

A moment.

"Sure she can be trusted, Rev?"

"Does she look like an ectophage to you, Toomey?"

"No, but she looks like a geist."

"...isn't that kind of out of the question, given how she's, uh, quick?"

"...Good point."

Sith_Happens

2015-09-20, 10:16 PM

Rater202

2015-09-20, 10:45 PM

"So she does breath fire. I suspected as much but wasn't sure. You ever tried to leverage that?"

Do I look eastern to you? My ancestors are from Europe, so, as dragon, I kind of have to breath fire.

"Yeah, as soon as I start threatening people with my fire breathing friend, that's about the time people would start conspiring to assassinate her so as to eliminate the obstacle between them and 'showing that upstart fledgling her place.'"

Sith_Happens

2015-09-20, 11:29 PM

"Yeah, as soon as I start threatening people with my fire breathing friend, that's about the time people would start conspiring to assassinate her so as to eliminate the obstacle between them and 'showing that upstart fledgling her place.'"

Rachel grins again.

"Which is why your fire breathing friend does the assassinating first. Who said anything about threatening anyone?

...But maybe that's just me, I'm not really the 'show of force' type in the first place. Of course, on the same note I'm also not telling you two to go around torching people willy-nilly. Just when you really need someone out of the way."

[bad influence intensifies]

Rater202

2015-09-21, 06:37 PM

Sneaking around isn't really my thing. I'm more of a "Run up and punch'em in the face" kind of person. Giantkin and all that.

Sith_Happens

2015-09-21, 09:07 PM

Sneaking around isn't really my thing. I'm more of a "Run up and punch'em in the face" kind of person. Giantkin and all that.

"...Well, if we're being technical, as long as there are no witnesses it's almost like you were being stealthy. That's way outside my own area of expertise, though, so grain of salt I guess."

Rachel scoots back slightly as if to stand up.

"Anyways, I'm parched. Anything I can get either of you? Or anyone, for that matter?"

Maybe it's just me but it feels like we might finally start to run the whole "idle chatter" thing thin if it goes on much longer.

The Glyphstone

2015-09-22, 03:45 PM

[B][Rachel Hartley (as Valerie Lestrade)]

"I do, I very much do. The difference, of course, is that I Hunger to use that power rather than to sit on it. To each their own, though, I can hardly fault you for following your base instincts when my own habits result from just that.

"And that, I believe, is where we differ the most -for I do use what I uncover, but in my own way. You call yourself a mudslinger - you find secrets and, presumably, intend to share them with the world as widely and loudly as you can. Pull one string, and watch the whole web vibrate in tune. I can understand that, but I work on a more...intimate scale. For me, the very act of taking those secrets is how I use them, because as you've seen yourself, when I take something I also leave something else behind. I haven't just stolen a secret, I've stolen something irreplaceable - my victim's privacy, their sense of security. What they thought was hidden away where no one else could find it is gone, and even if I never share it with another soul, I might; I could. What was theirs is now mine to keep or give away as I choose. And when they don't know how I got there in the first place, they can't be certain it won't happen again. That's power as I see it."

Above the two of them, Seth's leonine soul regards Rachel/Valerie with as much intent - if a bit more hostility - as her own Soul studies Seth.

As for my identity, I am Valerie Lestrade, peddler of secrets and, as you may count yourself the first person to have ever discovered on their own, one of Midway City's up-and-coming mudslingers."

"Now, if your senses really are as sharp as mine then you've known since 'I am Valerie Lestrade' that that isn't the whole story. Before I tell you the rest, however, it's your turn."

"Fair - tit for tat then. By day, I'm Seth DeCosta, mild-mannered security guard. By night, or afternoon, or weekend, or really whenever I'm bored or hungry, I'm also the Cat, black-hat hacker and cracker, a boogeyman of the Deep Net. Your serve."

Also using Eyes of Heaven, for similar reasons. But we've more or less shared everything the power gives with each other by now, so it's just reflexive.

No dissembling here. He's not saying much, but everything he is saying is absolute truth.

Sith_Happens

2015-09-23, 02:04 PM

[Rachel Hartley (as Valerie Lestrade)]
[One year ago]
[Seth DeCosta's apartment]

"Technically how widely I reveal something depends on a number of factors, but besides that you have the gist of it, yes. I can definitely appreciate your own outlook, though. Matter of fact, this whole time since I knocked on your door has almost been like meeting a twisted reflection of myself."

Valerie clasps her hands under her chin.

"...Anyways, on to my end of the bargain. When I'm not Valerie Lestrade I'm Rachel Hartley, intern at the Times and recent two-year graduate from MCU. Born and raised in the Midwest, if you must know.

Now, rather than trading details the normal way, I'm thinking it might be fun to compare what else we already know about each other. I'll start."

She leans back in her chair and crosses her legs.

"Your Soul is closest Kin with the Raptors, is currently sated, and is defined by a playfulness of sorts, which explains your toying with me before, as does your pride in your cautious nature. You keep a store of information on the supernatural that you wish to expand. Some day you hope to steal military secrets. Your Lair is a scorching desert pyramid, whipped within and without by a vicious sandstorm."

If any of Seth's aspirations are different in this scene than what they'll be when the first story starts (i.e.- what they are on your character sheet) let me know so I can correct the above. Rachel's "current" aspirations I posted (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19488276&postcount=28) a while ago now.

Also, if I haven't added it to my sheet yet she has Notorious (Invictus vampires) which I'm pretty sure shows up on Eye of Heaven (being a distinctly negative Condition and all).
Valerie pauses briefly for effect and smiles.

"So, how'd I do?"

The Glyphstone

2015-09-29, 11:22 PM

[One year ago]
[Seth DeCosta's apartment]

"Accurate in the essentials; certain corporate groups and private individuals guard their privacy as strongly as any military, and I'd be satisfied besting one of them. The rest of it, you've got more or less correct."

"In return, I can see your Soul is most at home among the Gorgons, and makes its lair in a dark cavern filled with spiderwebs. You dream of meeting one of the faerie demigods whom the changelings fear so greatly, but will settle for a merely mortal patron to support your business affairs, and you've made yourself unpopular with the more aristocratic sort of vampire. You're driven by your curiosity, and reliant on your cunning to restrain it."

Entelechy

2015-09-29, 11:53 PM

[Rachel, in Grebert's Lair]

Rachel holds her pose as she listens to a half dozen or more voices weigh in on her query with even more in the wings.

Well that's great, at this rate I could be here all night...

"Might want to be careful about opening up another door here. All these ghosts might leap at a chance to go running to another Lair. You're Heaven sure is my hell." The Erelim says, her voice coming from the shadows.

Sith_Happens

2015-09-30, 01:10 AM

"In return, I can see your Soul is most at home among the Gorgons, and makes its lair in a dark cavern filled with spiderwebs. You dream of meeting one of the faerie demigods whom the changelings fear so greatly, but will settle for a merely mortal patron to support your business affairs, and you've made yourself unpopular with the more aristocratic sort of vampire. You're driven by your curiosity, and reliant on your cunning to restrain it."

"Well, well, isn't this exciting? Unless I'm jumping to conclusions I think that based on some of that we have two of the same powers. At this point we're practically two sides of the same coin."

Valerie suddenly looks slightly puzzled.

"...Of course I say the same thing about Arel and you and she are almost nothing alike. I don't suppose you'd know if there's some sort of weird higher-dimensional analogue to a coin that that fits? I never took more than Cal'-One."

"Might want to be careful about opening up another door here. All these ghosts might leap at a chance to go running to another Lair. You're Heaven sure is my hell." The Erelim says, her voice coming from the shadows.

"Oh there you are, Arel. I was worried you'd dived headfirst into the Underworld never to return."

Rater202

2015-09-30, 07:19 PM

"...Well, if we're being technical, as long as there are no witnesses it's almost like you were being stealthy. That's way outside my own area of expertise, though, so grain of salt I guess."

Rachel scoots back slightly as if to stand up.

"Anyways, I'm parched. Anything I can get either of you? Or anyone, for that matter?"

Maybe it's just me but it feels like we might finally start to run the whole "idle chatter" thing thin if it goes on much longer.

"Please, I prefer to pick out my own."

I feel I should be offering you a drink.

Leliel

2015-09-30, 07:26 PM

"Might want to be careful about opening up another door here. All these ghosts might leap at a chance to go running to another Lair. You're Heaven sure is my hell." The Erelim says, her voice coming from the shadows.

"I don't think that they would want to. I think they're fond of sanity."

"True. Unless you've got this lovely wind...nope."

The ghostly debate seems to have died down. The one called Toomey floats up, looking still somewhat furtive.

"We are fine with being interviewed, but we have one request:"

"For every question we answer that isn't the Rev's, we get a chance to ask one of our own. If you don't know the answer, that's fine, we just need to know why you wouldn't, and we expect to have an answer eventually. We do not wish for much, just information on what supernatural crap you're dealing with-it's our home too, and we want to know if the quick are doing okay. Does that seem fair?"

Sith_Happens

2015-10-01, 02:21 PM

[A few nights ago]
[Da club]

"Please, I prefer to pick out my own."

I feel I should be offering you a drink.

Rachel addresses Sam first:

"Of course, that's why I asked. I just thought if you had someone in mind yet I could get them over here for you and you'd take over from there."

Then Taylor:

"As for you, don't mind if I do! In fact, surprise me."

[Two weeks* ago]
[Grebert's Lair]

(* Accidentally put "months" once or twice earlier, though with C'nor MIA either works fine.)

[COLOR="#696969"]"We are fine with being interviewed, but we have one request:"

"For every question we answer that isn't the Rev's, we get a chance to ask one of our own. If you don't know the answer, that's fine, we just need to know why you wouldn't, and we expect to have an answer eventually. We do not wish for much, just information on what supernatural crap you're dealing with-it's our home too, and we want to know if the quick are doing okay. Does that seem fair?"

"It does, but I'm afraid it's simply against my nature to be quite so forthcoming with my knowledge. How about this: for as long as I have free access to this place, the Reverend can consider himself to have me on retainer for any future investigations on your behalf. Which brings me to my fee for his current case."

Rachel adjusts her glasses and focuses on Grebert.

"As a wise man once said: when you're good at something, don't do it for free. I am willing to make special offers, however, which is why my price tonight is merely that you connect your Lair to mine as soon as the two have drifted close enough together to enable it. It would be awfully hard to carry out whatever long-term arrangement I work out with your ghosts otherwise, after all."

She smiles and extends her hand.

"So, do we have a deal?"

Leliel

2015-10-01, 11:42 PM

[A few nights ago]
"It does, but I'm afraid it's simply against my nature to be quite so forthcoming with my knowledge. How about this: for as long as I have free access to this place, the Reverend can consider himself to have me on retainer for any future investigations on your behalf. Which brings me to my fee for his current case."

Rachel adjusts her glasses and focuses on Grebert.

"As a wise man once said: when you're good at something, don't do it for free. I am willing to make special offers, however, which is why my price tonight is merely that you connect your Lair to mine as soon as the two have drifted close enough together to enable it. It would be awfully hard to carry out whatever long-term arrangement I work out with your ghosts otherwise, after all."

She smiles and extends her hand.

"So, do we have a deal?"

A quick glance at the ghostly congregation. They alternatively shrug and nod.

[B]"So it is done, with God and the Erelim as our witness."

"...Which reminds me," he says, looking at the living darkness in question, "Do you have any requests? I get the sense you may desire, though not a faithful ear, at least a compassionate one. That kind of bitterness you have towards the cloth flows from a scar, I can tell. It is your right to decide whether you are bitter or not-I always thought forgiveness was one of those virtues used to blame a victim anyway-but not having at least someone to vent at lets a mental wound fester."

Bit of his philosophy I picked up from a blog-the writer had ceased to believe in the virtue of forgiveness, because it always came off as a way to make the oppressed somehow be at fault for the oppressor. I don't normally agree, but it does seem like something a Beast would pick up after hanging around the outsiders for a while and having to deal with Heroes.

Rater202

2015-10-03, 09:27 AM

[A few nights ago]
[Da club]

Rachel addresses Sam first:

"Of course, that's why I asked. I just thought if you had someone in mind yet I could get them over here for you and you'd take over from there."

Then Taylor:

[COLOR="#EE82EE"]"As for you, don't mind if I do! In fact, surprise me."[/COLOR

I'll be back.

"...Hmm. No thank you. I mean, it get's pretty easy with Tay here. With you helping too, well, then it gets too easy, and where's the fun in that?"

Sith_Happens

2015-10-03, 04:07 PM

"...Hmm. No thank you. I mean, it get's pretty easy with Tay here. With you helping too, well, then it gets too easy, and where's the fun in that?"

Rachel settles back into her seat.

"I understand completely. Hell, with us it's literally less filling if we get too much help. If you change your mind though I see a guy so obviously desperate you could probably chow down right here if you play your cards right. Make it look like you're giving him a hickie or something. Sounds pretty fun to me at least."

*beat*

"So how long have you two known each other anyways?"

Rater202

2015-10-03, 10:14 PM

Sith_Happens

2015-10-05, 05:40 PM

"All of my life and for a good part of my afterlife. Grew up in the same town, went to school together. She was my best friend back in high school, but we lost touch in college. Then I got turned. Then she came here, and we met again. I was different, she was different. We ended up noticing each other, how we were different, how we were the same, got close again, and moved in together."

"That must have quite comforting for both of you. I didn't know anyone when I first moved here, and everyone in my hometown was completely human to boot, at least as far as I was ever able to tell."

Rachel leans forward appreciably, resting her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands, and makes sure to sound as innocent as possible.

"Speaking of, I'm so sorry if this is too personal a question but I can't help but notice you said that Taylor was 'different' after discovering her heritage. I'm curious, what would you say she was like before and after? Discovering our Souls affects each of us so differently and I just love hearing my siblings' stories about it, even secondhand. Be as judicious with the details as you'd like, of course, but I would very much like to hear your take on things. As Kin."

Let me know in the OOC thread if there's any particular reason for Sam to not answer so I can roll fast-talk (with all of one die since True Friend probably kicks in here if so). In case you're wondering it is a completely innocent question, or at least as innocent as Rachel is capable of being about anything.

Rater202

2015-10-05, 06:59 PM

"...She was more mature, and she was a dragon.

That's it."

Taylor comes back, he's holding a pair of glasses that each look like they could hold four shots.

This, is a four horseman. You know what those are? The drink, I mean.

Sith_Happens

2015-10-06, 01:28 AM

This, is a four horseman. You know what those are? The drink, I mean.

Rachel grins mischeviously.

"They're what put me under the table at a frat party once before I even knew I was drunk is what they are. Shall we make this a toast, then?"

Rater202

2015-10-06, 11:01 AM

Rachel grins mischeviously.

"They're what put me under the table at a frat party once before I even knew I was drunk is what they are. Shall we make this a toast, then?"

Taylor holds out her glass.

To family?

Sith_Happens

2015-10-06, 02:59 PM

Taylor holds out her glass.

To family?

"To Family."

Rachel taps her glass to Taylor's and promptly empties it.

"Anyways, I was just trying to get your friend here's take on how your Homecoming affected you, but she's not very descriptive to say the least. Comparing experiences, if you will."

Rater202

2015-10-07, 03:45 PM

Not much to it. A bunch of things made a lot more sense afterward.

Sith_Happens

2015-10-07, 06:45 PM

Not much to it. A bunch of things made a lot more sense afterward.

"Same way for me. I guess you say part of me already knew I was a monster from the moment I could think, confronting my Soul just confirmed it. Oh, and the powers were nice too."

Rachel chuckles at that last bit, then eyes Taylor's glass.

"You are going to drink that, aren't you?"

The Glyphstone

2015-10-08, 12:08 AM

"Well, well, isn't this exciting? Unless I'm jumping to conclusions I think that based on some of that we have two of the same powers. At this point we're practically two sides of the same coin."

Valerie suddenly looks slightly puzzled.

"...Of course I say the same thing about Arel and you and she are almost nothing alike. I don't suppose you'd know if there's some sort of weird higher-dimensional analogue to a coin that that fits? I never took more than Cal'-One."
"[/COLOR]

"I'm afraid advanced mathematics was never a particularly strong subject of mine in school either. But now you've piqued my curiosity in return - who is Arel? Presumably another cousin."

Sith_Happens

2015-10-08, 01:16 AM

[One year ago]
[Seth's apartment]

"I'm afraid advanced mathematics was never a particularly strong subject of mine in school either. But now you've piqued my curiosity in return - who is Arel? Presumably another cousin."

"It's short for 'Erelim,' one of my broodmates. I consider her a sister, really, even more so than normal. She's... Well, any description I could give of her would be nothing more than a shot in the dark, except that she likes getting people high as a kite and tricking them into publicly indulging their guiltiest pleasures. As you might guess, she tends to leave behind the most wonderful leftovers for someone like me. I like to think we've bonded over that, though honestly I still can't make heads or tails of her most of the time and I've known her for two years now. Actually, come to think of it I'd say that's a large part of her charm."

"Shot in the dark" was a deliberate pun.

Rater202

2015-10-08, 08:04 AM

"Same way for me. I guess you say part of me already knew I was a monster from the moment I could think, confronting my Soul just confirmed it. Oh, and the powers were nice too."

Rachel chuckles at that last bit, then eyes Taylor's glass.

"You are going to drink that, aren't you?"

Taylor downs the drink.

Sith_Happens

2015-10-08, 11:10 AM

[A few nights ago]
[Da Club]

"That's more like it. So what now?"

Rater202

2015-10-10, 12:47 AM

[A few nights ago]
[Da Club]

"That's more like it. So what now?"

Another round?

Sith_Happens

2015-10-10, 02:59 AM

Another round?

Gee, it's almost like I correctly guessed what the holdup was. Not that ~24 hours even remotely counts as a "holdup" (at least for this thread), but still.:smalltongue:
Rachel scratches her chin for a few moments in consideration.

"Ah, **** it, it's not like I was going to be getting back to my spying tonight anyways. Bring it on. Should I go get them this time?"

Entelechy

2015-10-10, 01:59 PM

A quick glance at the ghostly congregation. They alternatively shrug and nod.

"So it is done, with God and the Erelim as our witness."

"...Which reminds me," he says, looking at the living darkness in question, "Do you have any requests? I get the sense you may desire, though not a faithful ear, at least a compassionate one. That kind of bitterness you have towards the cloth flows from a scar, I can tell. It is your right to decide whether you are bitter or not-I always thought forgiveness was one of those virtues used to blame a victim anyway-but not having at least someone to vent at lets a mental wound fester."

Bit of his philosophy I picked up from a blog-the writer had ceased to believe in the virtue of forgiveness, because it always came off as a way to make the oppressed somehow be at fault for the oppressor. I don't normally agree, but it does seem like something a Beast would pick up after hanging around the outsiders for a while and having to deal with Heroes.

"There's no bitterness here. What need shadows for bitterness? The night has no scars. Though your constant and continued disrespect for me might not work out great for you in the long run. I mean, I pay the average person ten times the consideration they pay me, look at all the **** from Rachel I put up with, but honestly, a little curtosy goes a long way. Can we get out of this hellworld now?"

Sith_Happens

2015-10-10, 05:31 PM

[A few (weeks/months, TBD) ago]
[Bruno's Lair]

"We could always show him our hellworld now, there's a portal right here. Matter of fact, once we get there I just had the best idea how Bruno—Can I call you Bruno?—can give some of that respect you're hoping for."

Rachel smirks conspiratorially.

Leliel

2015-10-10, 10:27 PM

"There's no bitterness here. What need shadows for bitterness? The night has no scars. Though your constant and continued disrespect for me might not work out great for you in the long run. I mean, I pay the average person ten times the consideration they pay me, look at all the **** from Rachel I put up with, but honestly, a little curtosy goes a long way. Can we get out of this hellworld now?"

"...Forgive me for my rudeness, then," he finishes politely while attempting to keep the disbelief out of his voice on the "no bitterness" part.

"We could always show him our hellworld now, there's a portal right here. Matter of fact, once we get there I just had the best idea how Bruno—Can I call you Bruno?—can give some of that respect you're hoping for."

Rachel smirks conspiratorially.

"That's fine. On both accounts. I would love the knowledge of how other Lairs form and be, on a personal basis.